M Karunanidhi warns against SSP privatisation

In his letter to the PM, Karunanidhi said, “People of Tamil Nadu are emotionally attached to Salem Steel Plant and any move to privatise it will lead to great disappointment and mass dissent.” 

“We are startled to know that the BJP government at the Centre has initiated steps to privatise the plant,” he said. Noting that the plant has been profitable from its start and the same has reached Rs 100 crore mark, the former Chief Minister said, “Information is reaching us that the Government of India is taking efforts for its privatisation under the pretext that the Plant has been incurring loss.”

He also asked the PM and Union Minister of Steel Chaudhary Birender Singh to intervene and think positively to sustain and strengthen the “hard-won public sector undertaking” by posting administrative experts, putting up a power generating plant and starting a rail coach factory at Salem instead of giving it to private entrepreneurs so as to protect the livelihood of thousands of employees. 

Tracing the setting up of the plant in the early 1970’s after years of persuasion and efforts by Tamil Nadu, he requested the Prime Minister to intervene in the matter and halt disinvestment. “I kindly request your intervention to save the Salem Steel Plant, which is a hard-won Public Sector Undertaking in the State,” he said. “Your timely intervention will protect the livelihood of thousands of employees and retain a glorious landmark of Tamil Nadu,” he added.