Urban-Rural
Divide Jharkhand’s political landscape illustrates the complexities of a state grappling with rapid urbanisation, stark rural realities, and growing communal tensions.
Congress MP from Rae Bareli (Uttar Pradesh) and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, on Tuesday, while speaking in the Lok Sabha, criticized the government over the manner it has been managing the PSUs like Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL).
Raising the issue during the zero hour in the Lok Sabha, she also charged the government of trying to secretly privatise the Modern Coach Factory in her constituency Rae Bareli, adding that it has caused uncertainty among the employees and their families.
“Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru had termed the PSUs as temples of modern India. It hurts to see that most of such temples are in danger today. Despite profits, their employees are not being paid salary on time and they have been put in trouble to benefit some industrialists.
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“That which is happening with HAL, BSNL and MTNL is no secret. I urge the government to protect the modern coach factory in Rae Bareli and other PSUs and give respect to the workers and their families,” ANI quoted Sonia Gandhi as saying.
She said that privatization leads to thousands of people getting unemployed and it is against the objectives for which the plant had been set up. “The real concern is that they have chosen Modern Coach Factory for the experiment,” said Sonia, adding that the factory had been set up by the UPA government to boost manufacturing in the country and is the most modern plant that makes good quality coaches at cheap prices.
“The employees have also not been taken into confidence. It is a matter of sadness that their and their families’ future is in danger. I urge the government to protect the Modern Coach Factory and other PSUs and give respect to the farmers and their families,” she said, adding that privatization leads to priceless assets going to a few private hands at very cheap prices and thousands getting unemployed.
She also expressed unhappiness over the government’s decision to merge Rail Budget with the General Budget.
(With agency inputs)
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