Proposal to sell SSP is part of plans to sell PSUs: M Karunanidhi

Supporting the on-going protest by the regular and contract workers in Salem Steel Plant (SSP) against the Centre's move for its strategic sale, DMK supremo M Karunanidhi said that this is part of the Centre's plan to sell various public sector undertakings.

In a statement issued on Saturday, he recalled that the plant was set up in 1970 after his party put pressure on the central government. Almost 2,500 people are working in the facility, including around 300 management officials, 1,000 permanent workers, around 350 employees from co-operative societies and around 500 contract workers.

The factory is producing around 30,000 tonne of steel products and has registered a profit of around Rs 100 crore a year from 2003 to 2010. The performance turned bad when another private organisation was set up near the facility and the government is trying to close down the unit.

He also alleged that by merging the Railway Budget with the Union Budget from next year, the government is trying to bring in privatisation in Railways also.

The permanent and contract workers of the factory, affiliated to the CITU, INTUC and LPF unions are conducting protest in front of the factory against the proposed move. The Prime Ministers' Office has given a nod for the strategic sales of the plant recently, according to reports.