Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Left's stand

Now that the employees of the Airports Authority of India have called off their strike against the privatisation of the Delhi and Mumbai airports, one wonders what the Left parties' stand on the issue is. Had they really been concerned about the privatisation of airports, they should have taken a more rigid position when the idea was initiated. By urging the AAI employees to strike work after the finalisation of bids, they have reinforced that they can only make noise. The Manmohan Singh Government has got away with the move by hoodwinking the Left — it has appointed a committee to look into the employees' concerns.

S.R. Muralidharan,
Kolkata

* * *

It looks like the Left has no option but to go along with the UPA Government's decision. It is time the communists looked for alternatives to the claim that they want to keep the communal forces out of power. The Congress seems to have taken them for granted.

A.R. Karthick,
Chennai

* * *

The CPI (M)-led Left has beaten a hasty retreat yet gain. It appears to have reconciled itself to airports' modernisation at private hands. The meeting of trade union representatives with Prime Minister Mammohan Singh was only a face-saver.

J. Akshay,
Secunderabad

* * *

Economic reforms envisage globalisation and privatisation. And the UPA, which the Left parties support, is committed to them. Why then oppose moves that conform to the policy and later give up?

Sahana Rayan,
Chidambaram, T.N.

* * *

If the Shiv Sena could be fined for a Mumbai bandh, can a similar fine not be imposed on the parties that organised the airport strike causing inconvenience to passengers?

V.N. Ramachandran,
New Jersey

* * *

No government employee will ever welcome privatisation. Airports have been with the AAI for so long but what has been the experience of passengers so far? It is not enough to do a job; it should be done well. The employees who displayed enthusiasm and fervour while striking work could have worked wonders had they showed similar interest in their job.

B. Lakshminarayanan,
Chennai

* * *

It is time the trade unions shed their cynical outlook on privatisation. The Centre should tread the path of modernisation undeterred, with the sole aim of giving the best to those who pay for their comfort.

R.M. Manoharan,
Chennai

* * *

While the Government should honour its commitment on protecting the AAI employees' jobs, they too should be amenable to any progressive effort. Privatisation should be seen as an opportunity to improve amenities for the paying air traveller.

Bijay Shankar,
New Delhi

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