Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Airport privatisation

I am fully convinced that the ongoing strike against the privatisation of the Delhi and Mumbai airports is right. The UPA Government has gone back completely on the assurances given in the Common Minimum Programme. Mindless privatisation is being undertaken with a vested interest. The Left is right in opposing the same.

R. Ramesh Sundar,
Chennai

* * *

Where will this privatisation lead? What will happen to the workers in the 40-50 age group? The private bidders have only committed to retain 30 per cent of the existing workers.

What will the remaining 70 per cent, most of whom are middle aged and for whom the job options are limited, do?

Neha Atri,
New Delhi

* * *

Capitalism will never foster or tolerate a society enjoying justice and equality. It is an embodiment of repression and exploitation of the masses by a few.

V.P. Ramesan,
Tripunithura, Kerala

* * *

It appears that most of the media have deliberately ignored the distinction between "modernisation" and "privatisation."

They have tried to show that the two are exactly the same, and to project the workers unions and others as opponents of modernisation and as anti-development groups, though they may actually be against privatisation and not against modernisation.

Jandhyala B.G. Tilak,
New Delhi

* * *

One of the reasons given for the proposed privatisation is that the money earned could be spent on modernising smaller airports. This then raises the question why the airports requiring modernisation are not being privatised and why money-spinners such as the Mumbai and Delhi airports are being handed over to private parties who by themselves have no experience in running airports?

The Left parties are right in opposing the privatisation move.

T.T. Krishnan,
Chennai

* * *

I appeal to the Left parties and all those opposing the airport privatisation proposal to come to terms with the reality.

Several developing nations, which have taken several such bold decisions, are progressing rapidly.

S. Kalimuthu,
Coimbatore

* * *

The strike is most unfortunate. In fact, the AAI employees' union is expected to play a proactive role in the privatisation project without jeopardising the interests of the employees. Let it not be forgotten that India is a fast-growing economy with a promising future.

Modern airports will only help the economy grow, not hamper it.

Satish R.Murdeshwar,
Pune

* * *

The Government should immediately call the representatives of the AAI workers for talks and consider their proposals for the modernisation of airports. If this is not feasible, at least a written guarantee should be given for the retention of the employees.

Using the Essential Services Maintenance Act to curb the employees' struggle will only prove that the reforms process is not humane.

Rameeza A. Rasheed,
Chennai

* * *

Some sections generalise and accuse public sector workers of being lazy, corrupt, and inefficient. If privatisation were the panacea for all ills, no private company would incur losses. But that is not the case and corruption exists in the private sector too.

The thing public sector employees fear is the rampant exploitation in private companies. They just want to retain job security.

Udita Agrawal,
New Delhi

* * *

When Indian companies are venturing out to other countries and when we boast of making missiles and rockets by ourselves, can we not modernise airports by ourselves?

N. Ramakrishnan,
Chennai

* * *

By disrupting air traffic, the airport employees are creating problems for the citizens. Instead of taking recourse to harsh measures such as strikes they should discuss their grievances with the Government. The Government has said every employee will be given a job either in the same city or elsewhere. What more do they want?

D.B.N. Murthy,
Bangalore

* * *

The Centre should stand by its decision to privatise the airports at Delhi and Mumbai. The Government should also consider the just demands of the airport employees.

Ashish Asopa,
Jodhpur, Rajasthan

* * *

A project of such a magnitude is bound to attract its share of criticism. The Government should decide it has had enough of these delays and go ahead with its plans. Otherwise we will never get the world-class airports the country desperately needs.

Yugal Joshi,
New Delhi

* * *

When we see the agitation of the airport employees we feel all airports should be privatised forthwith. When we see the service conditions and uncertainty of tenure in the various private airlines we wish the airline business is nationalised. Whatever the case, things are not going to improve for the passengers.

Nisha Gopalan,
Chennai

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