Out-of-job Buta criticises airport privatisation

New Delhi: The Manmohan Singh government’s policy on privatisation of airports on
Monday encountered a voice of dissent from its own ranks, reminding the Congress of its erstwhile leaders championing the public sector.
Senior Congress leader Buta Singh criticised the decision to privatise Delhi and Mumbai airports and demanded that in future the task of modernisation of airports be given to the Airport Authority of India (AAI). Mr Singh, whose views were more in sync with those of the Left than the Congress, quoted Nehru saying he advocated making the public sector occupy commanding heights of economy. “I am with you,” he told the AAI employees and the Left leaders at the third annual All India Conference of the AAI union.
He also said that Indira Gandhi had nationalised banks and industries and now the government was privatising various sectors. But Mr Singh’s views will not have much backing in the Congress considering that the party has accepted a new economic paradigm.
Mr Buta Singh, who is the chairman of the national commission for Scheduled Castes, said the private sector did not have a reservation policy. “As chairman of the commission, I feel strongly that the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes should get reservation and that is possible only in the public sector,” Mr Singh said.
18/11/08 Economic Times

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Categories: Airports Nov 2008