EDITORIAL

Why Shun Parliament?

THAT the government's intention is to complete the loot of India's public assets in a hurry became clear when it moved the Supreme Court for a "serious re-consideration" of its decision regarding the disinvestment of BPCL and HPCL. Instead of coming before the Parliament on this issue, the government has chosen to seek a review.

This, in itself, is very revealing.  First, the government does not want to wait  till the coming Parliament session and is seeking to proceed with the loot of the public sector in a hurry. Secondly, by not wanting to come before the Parliament, the government is betraying its desire to be not accountable or transparent in its privatisation process.  The Supreme Court has unanimously ruled that companies created by acts of Parliament cannot be privatised without Parliament's approval. The government is, thus, bound to abide by this. The Vajpayee government, however, is seeking to circumvent this. This cannot be allowed. 

More importantly, this government refuses to accept the simple fact that the public sector funded by resources coming from the consolidated fund of India is the property of the Indian people. As we have repeatedly stated in these columns, the property of Indian people is being sold without the owner's permission by the government which merely acts as the manager.  This is a classic case of a cunning manager looting by selling off property without taking the owner's permission. Such managers will be sacked when the time comes. On this score, there is no doubt.

By now, it is clear that in the name of privatisation, many a deal of sleaze and corruption of enormous amounts have taken place. While privatisation itself makes neither economic nor common sense, the method and manner in which this government has proceeded has smacked of complete lack of transparency and accountability. This cannot be allowed.

The working people and the working class in our country  have protested in large numbers  against this brazen loot of India. The time has come for all India patriots to rise to stop this government from proceeding to destroy completely India's economic self-reliance.