The Hindu Business Line : Left parties oppose move to privatise airports, write to PM

In a letter to the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, Left party leaders, who include the CPI (M) Member of Parliament and Chairman of the Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture, Mr Nilotpal Basu, have expressed "serious concern" and "strong reservation" on the decision of the empowered Group of Ministers (eGoM) to "conclusively privatise" the country's two largest airports.

The letter points to not only the Left's opposition to the move but also talks of the strong objections of the Central trade unions which were made clear in different fora, including the pre-Budget meeting with the Prime Minister on June 18.

"Employees of the Airports Authority of India, under a joint forum, including engineers, architects, professional and others are strongly opposed to the efforts of the Civil Aviation Ministry which is in a tearing hurry to complete the process of privatisation," the letter said.

The letter also talks about the employees' forum having submitted a detailed plan to the Prime Minister for renovation and modernisation of the two airports with internal resources under the present set-up and notes "with regret'' that instead of giving due consideration to the report, the UPA Government was trying to follow the track of privatisation drawn up by the NDA Government.

"Such a move, in our opinion, is in violation of the CMP which stipulates generally that profit-making companies will not be privatised. All privatisation will be considered on a transparent and consultative case-by-case basis," the letter states. It also points to the fact that AAI is a profit- making PSU with reserves of over Rs 2,300 crore.

The letter also notes that the lack of transparency of purpose, as evident from the contradictory statements of the Civil Aviation Ministry on the issue, has shrouded the whole process in mystery and suspicion.

"The sudden decision of involving private domestic airlines as equity participants in the proposed joint venture is a glaring instance of such non-transparency. The consultative process with all the stakeholders has been totally ignored, with the unwillingness of the Government even to discuss the alternative scheme presented by the employees," the letter said.

It urged the PM to ensure that the privatisation move is stalled immediately.

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