Jammu, August 14: The move of the Power Development Department (PDD) to deal with the power theft in a brutal manner on the recommendations of the State Vigilance Commission (SVC) is not only worrying but also smacks of gross unprofessionalism on the part of the power ministry which of late has been showing signs of complete chaos and immaturity.
While there is no denying the fact that power theft must be dealt with sternly but the million dollar question is how to implement it in a state where there are numerous cases of complete misuse of power by every Tom Dick and Harry who occupies the musical chairs.
The public outcry that is gaining momentum by the day is not without any valid reason as there is no mention of jail term for power theft by the government departments, government officials, bureaucrats, politicians and other mighty people who twist and turn the rules according to their whims and fancies as it is always the ordinary man on the street who bears the brunt of the so called rules.
The sudden decision is fraught with dangerous consequences as now every official in the PDD has potential to threaten the gullible consumers to extract money by threatening to register FIR against them in the so called designated police stations for power theft.
One would like to ask the government, PDD and also the SVC whether they have set their house in order and whether they would be comfortable if the drive is started from their own homes as these are the officials who mostly indulge in gross violations knowing well nobody is going to touch them for their sins.
At the same time the PDP-BJP government which came to power with great pomp and show after getting huge mandate from the very consumers they are now threatening, must come clean before the public by stating whether they have renamed the colonialism with democracy as there is nothing in such dictatorial orders that reminds us of democracy in the state.
The government must also specify as to whether it has kept its promise of providing round the clock full voltage electricity after installing electronic meters which was the basis on which electronic meters were introduced in the state.
Ironically it was Mufti lead government which had launched a drive for the installation of electronic meters during his first tenure with the promise that whoever opts for electronic meter would get regular, uninterrupted power supply. But alas that was only a hoax to hoodwink the people while the reality is that people are bearing the brunt of long power cuts and completely chaotic and mindless power supply which benefits only the blue eyed boys of the department and not the general public.
It is time the general public comes out on streets like that of the AIIMS issue and asks the governments where its promise of round the clock power has gone as once the government implements its own promises only then can it threaten its voters of jail for power theft or power pilferage.
The biggest irony is that while we claim to be celebrating the 69th Independence day the reality is that we are going deep into the abyss of colonialism which sadly seems to have been renamed by Indians as democracy as the erstwhile colonial lords have been replaced by the elected dictators who use every law and rule according to their own whims and fancies which has nothing to do with the welfare or benefit of the common man on street.
One can only hope that the BJP leaders at least understand this as it is their last opportunity to prove themselves as well wishers of the general masses of Jammu instead of working as dictators of democracy like their predecessors to enslave the common people under the new regime of elected monarchs.
God bless this nation.