The Hindu : National : CITU urges Karunanidhi to stop BSNL disinvestment

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Aug 10, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

National

National

CITU urges Karunanidhi to stop BSNL disinvestment

Special Correspondent

BANGALORE: The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) has urged Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi to intervene in the proposed move to disinvest 10 per cent of the Union government’s equity in the public sector telecom major, the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. (BSNL).

CITU president M.K. Pandhe, in a letter to Mr. Karunanidhi, said the BSNL Employees’ Union had “resolutely opposed” the proposal at a meeting convened by Union Minister for Telecommunications A. Raja on August 7. He said the union’s position was a “principled stand” against disinvesting government equity in profit-making public sector undertakings. Mr. Pandhe said the Finance Ministry “appears to be determined to go ahead with the proposal” despite the opposition of the workers.

Mr. Pandhe recalled Mr. Karunanidhi’s “firm stand” against the move to disinvest government equity in the Neyveli Lignite Corporation in 2006, which resulted in the withdrawal of the proposal.

“I would, therefore, request you to take a similar stand on the question of disinvestments of BSNL, by taking up the matter with the Government of India so that it remains as a proud public sector undertaking.” He urged the Chief Minister to take into account the wishes of the BSNL workers so that the government’s plan to proceed with the BSNL Initial Public Offer “is nipped in the bud.”

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National