Sonia opposes ‘corporatization’ of Rae Bareli coach factory

Surjit Kumar Dhal, New Delhi, July 2: UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday opposed in Lok Sabha a railway ministry proposal to corporatize its production units, including the Modern Coach Factory in her Lok Sabha constituency of Rae Bareli, alleging that it was the “first step” towards their privatisation.

                 Soon after the Congress leader raised the issue during the Zero Hour, the Railways rejected her charge and said the factory will remain under government control.

                Slamming the move to corporatize railways’ production units, Gandhi accused the government of selling the country’s assets to private players at a throwaway price.

                  It was a rare instance when Gandhi raised an issue during the Zero Hour in Lok Sabha.

                 “Those who don’t understand the real meaning of corporatization…. It is actually the first step towards privatisation. They are selling the country’s assets to a handful of private players at a throwaway price. This will leave thousands unemployed,” she said.

                 But, the Railways maintained that “corporatization was not privatisation”.

                 “What railways means by corporatization is making a government PSU – the Indian Railway Rolling Stock Company- under the Ministry of Railways and shifting the production units including MCF, Rae Bareli to it,” an official said.

                 “This means they will remain under government control but will be better managed as these production will become fully functional PSUs. This will help drive technology partnership and modernisation,” the official said.

                 Gandhi, the leader of Congress Parliamentary Party, was the first one to speak during the Zero Hour. As she rose from her seat, the entire opposition was seen thumping the desks.

                 Taking a dig at the government, she said the unit was started during the UPA regime to promote “make in India”, which has been taken up by the Modi government.

                 She said that the MCF is the most modern factory of the Indian Railways and manufactures best coaches at cheapest rates.

                 “The government has invested heavily in it (MCF). It is difficult to understand why the government wants to resort to corporatization,” she said.

                 She said the future of 2,000 workers remains uncertain due to the government’s move.The primary job of the PSU is welfare of the people and not to benefit capitalists, she said.

                 Gandhi also criticised the government for stopping the practise of having a separate railway budget.

                 “Can we not expect parliamentary scrutiny for such types of decisions,” she said.

                 She also highlighted the condition of Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd and Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd.