Welcoming incoming Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's statement on divestment, Communist Party of India leader Gurudas Dasgupta on Thursday said, "This is not enough" and called on the new government to wind up the divestment ministry and inquire into the divestment deals carried out by the National Democratic Alliance government, including gross under-sale of public sector units.
"I welcome the statement of the Prime Minister-designate Manmohan Singh today against indiscriminate privatisation. It constitutes a departure from the earlier policies followed by the NDA government. But this is not enough," Dasgupta, a CPI National Executive and National Council member told PTI.
Dasgupta, the general secretary of the AITUC made a four-point proposal on divestment, which he wanted the new government to consider.
Firstly he said, "The government should categorically state that profit-making PSUs not only in the oil (sector), but everywhere, will not be privatised and those units which are potentially viable should be nursed back to health".
Private capital should not be allowed to enter into defence productions.
Thirdly, the divestment ministry should be wound up and finally the interests of workers should be protected, he said.
Dasgupta said reforms with a 'human face' should mean safeguarding the interests of the working class, promotion of a programme for job creation, 'fair play' for workers and immediate termination of the policy of hire and fire.
"There should be an inquiry into the complaints of corruptions perpetrated by the earlier government including gross under sale of public sector units," he added.
