Power tariff hike to be looked into by Committee: Balbir Punj

The BJP, which earlier took a strong stand against the recent hike in power tariff and even forced chief minister Parkash Singh Badal to announce withdrawal of the hike, today virtually softened its approach on the issue.

Balbir Punj, incharge of BJP's affairs in the state, said that the issue would be settled by the two member committee constituted to review the subsidies in all sectors.

"The issue of power hike has been put before the two-member committee, comprising deputy chief minister Sukhbir Badal and senior BJP minister Manoranjan Kalia, constituted to review subsidies being extended in the state to all sectors including rural and urban population," Punj told reporters here.

On BJP MP from Amritsar Navjot Singh Sidhu's bringing privilege motion in the Parliament for not inviting him during the recent visit of Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper to Amritsar, Punj said, "It is the issue between the MP and deputy commissioner, Amritsar and Lok Sabha Speaker will resolve the issue as per the parliamentary procedure and practice."

Punj revealed that very soon the state BJP would be revamped after the ongoing membership drive is over and new president of the state unit would be elected by the end of December.