The Hindu : INTUC opposes privatisation of profitable PSUs

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Apr 08, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala-Thiruvananthapuram

INTUC opposes privatisation of profitable PSUs

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM APRIL 7. The veteran Congress leader, K. Karunakaran, MP, has stated that the INTUC would oppose any move from the part of the Government to privatise profit-making public sector undertakings.

Inaugurating the Southern regional convention of the State INTUC here on Saturday, Mr. Karunakaran said that though he welcomed privatisation of non-profitable public sector companies, the move to privatise profitable public sector undertakings could not be justified as it was against the wishes of the workers. Though the economic reforms and globalisation had been implemented by the previous Congress Government at the Centre for the welfare of the working class, these were now being sabotaged and used as a weapon against the workers, he added.

He added that the BJP Government at the Centre was adopting policies that were against the wishes of the working class. The Government had started disinvestment policies and a large number of public sector undertakings were under the verge of a closure due to such policies. Though the INTUC believed that strike should only be the last resort, it would fight for the protection of rights of the working class, he said.

Addressing the meeting, the national president of the INTUC, G. Sanjeeva Reddy, criticised the Union Government for adopting "anti-worker'' policies. The Government had become a puppet in the hands of the World Bank and was only implementing the orders of the World Bank in the country, he added.

Mr. Reddy also came down heavily on the Left parties stating that they were adopting "double standards'' on matters related to workers. While several factories were being closed down in West Bengal due to the wrong policies of the Government, the Left parties remained silent.

At the same time, they were fighting against Congress governments in various States just for the sake of preventing the "erosion'' of workers from the party, he said.

Mr. Reddy was given a warm welcome at the Thiruvananthapuram airport on his first visit to the State after assuming charge as the INTUC national president.

In the evening, a rally was taken out from Museum junction to the Gandhi Park.

The rally, that started at 5 p.m, from Museum junction was led by the State leaders of the INTUC, K. Suresh Babu, Varkala Kahar, MLA, V. S. Sivakumar, MP, Mercy Ravi, MLA, the DCC president, N. Peethambara Kurup, and Thalekkunnil Basheer.

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