CPM not against sale of sick PSUs

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) General Secretary Harkishen Singh Surjeet on Saturday said the Leftists were not opposed to divestment in constantly loss-making public sector units, but wanted the proceeds to be invested in the social sector instead of utilising them to meet the budgetary deficits.

In a special article published in the party daily Ganashakti, Surjeet said: "We have categorically said that there was no need for a separate divestment ministry and profit-making PSUs can't be disinvested. All efforts should be made to revive the sick and closed PSUs. We are, however, against keeping alive constantly loss-making units."

"At the same time, we want transparency in divestment in loss-making units. Valuable wealth should not be sold at throw away prices. The proceeds of divestment should be invested in the social sector and not meeting the deficit of the government exchequer," he said.

During the previous BJP-led regime, in the name of divestment, favoured people in the party were benefitted," Surjeet alleged.

He said that it was true that the Leftists would support the Congress on the question of upholding secularism and national unity, but at the same time there were differences between Congress and Leftists on economic issues.

"Because of these differences, the CPI(M) Central Committee has decided to support the Congress-led government from outside instead of joining it."