People's Democracy

 HPCL/BPCL PRIVATISATION

 CITU Welcomes Court Judgement

THAT “our stand is vindicated” was the reaction of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU). A statement from the CITU on September 16 welcomed the Supreme Court judgement against the BJP-led government’s move to privatise the blue chip and strategically important oil PSUs --- the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (HPCL) and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (BPCL) --- while bypassing the parliament.

The HPCL and the BPCL were created by the acts of parliament. It was said at that time that “oil industry is far too important for economic development of the country and for national security.” And further that “it will be politically wrong and economically incorrect to leave its control to the hands of private companies.” Therefore, while maintaining its total opposition to privatisation, the CITU said without enacting a new legislation repealing the nationalisation acts in parliament, privatisation of these oil PSUs shall be an assault on parliamentary democracy.

The judgement definitely provides an interim achievement. But without being complacent, the ongoing united struggles on all the three fronts --- people’s front, parliamentary front and legal front --- must be continuously intensified.

In view of this development, the all-India convention of trade unions in oil sector PSUs --- under the banner of National United Forum Against Privatisation of Oil PSU --- slated to take place at the MPs Club, North Avenue, New Delhi on September 28 has become all the more important. The CITU has appealed to the trade unions functioning in the oil PSUs to join the convention, irrespective of affiliations, and participate in deciding the next course of action. (INN)