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Govt faces flak over proposed sell-off of SAIL plants

The opposition joined hands with the BJP-led government's allies to put it on the mat in the Lower House of the parliament or Lok Sabha on the issue of the privatisation of steel plants belonging to the Steel Authority of India.

After having generated considerable heat on the issue, the opposition also staged a walk out in the house.

The allies, after causing much embarrassment to the government, however, did not join the walkout.

It all started when the ruling party's main ally Telegu Desam raised the issue of allotment of funds for the revival of Vizag Steel Plant during the zero hour. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPI(M) and other opposition parties, while extending support to this cause, charged the government with indulging in sell out in the name of privatisation.

Leader of the CPI(M) Somnath Chatterjee said that the opposition would extend wholehearted support to the revival of the Vizag Steel Plant though Telegu Desam remained a key ally of the government. "Self-reliance has been given a go by and the government was resorting to a wholesale sell-out of public sector steel plants under the garb of privatisation. Salem, Durgapur and Vizag steel plants in the public sector are now in peril," he said.

Soon, it was the turn of allies to turn the heat on the government. Trinamool Congress leader Sudhip Bandopadhyaya charged the government with lack of transparency in selection of strategic partners in the private sector who will take over these plants. He urged the government to give up privatisation and give budgetary support to the public sector steel plants.

Vaiko of the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazagham or MDMK said his party was committed to the concept of federalism and would not like the Centre to trample upon the rights of states. The Tamil Nadu assembly has passed a resolution unanimously against the privatisation of Salem Steel Plant and the Centre should, therefore, drop this move forthwith.

He, however, chose to attack the Congress governments in the past for the present ills of the steel industry including privatisation.

The house witnessed noisy scenes when Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh, Congress leader Priyaranjan Dasmunshi, members belonging to the MDMK and the All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazagham or AIADMK wanted to have their say on the issue. Speaker G M C Balayogi, however, did not permit them and asked parliamentary affairs minister Pramod Mahajan to give the government's standpoint.

Mahajan said the Steel Authority of India one of the prestigious public sector units and conferred the status of a navaratna (a gem) company has become sick in the last two years. The minister's contention was strongly contested by CPI(M) leader Basudeb Acharya and the house witnessed a wordy duel between the two for a few minutes.

The minister said his government has waived off loans to the tune of Rs 13 billion for the Vizag Steel Plant and had also announced a massive finance package for revival of sail steel plants recently. He also took strong exception to the opposition's contention that government was indulging in sell out of steel plants.

Not satisfied with the minister's reply members belonging to the Congress, Left parties, Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal and the AIADMK staged a walkout.

UNI

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