The Hindu : National : Centre firm on privatising airports, says Jyoti Basu

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Saturday, Feb 04, 2006

National

National

Centre firm on privatising airports, says Jyoti Basu

Special Correspondent

"Government has told Left leaders it would not reverse process"

Jyoti Basu

KOLKATA: Whatever might be the outcome of the talks between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and leaders of the striking employees of the Airports Authority of India (AAI), the Centre was firm on privatising airports,senior Polit Bureau member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) Jyoti Basu told the media here on Friday.

Mr. Basu said that he had spoken to some Left leaders who had met the Prime Minister earlier in the day. "The Government has said that it would not reverse the airport privatisation process but is open to talks on issues such as the absorption of all airport employees," he added.

The cease-work by airport employees who have joined ranks under the AAI Employees' Joint Forum entered its third day at the city's Netaji Subash Chandra Bose International airport where demonstrations continued to be held outside both the domestic and international terminals protesting the move to privatise airports.

The State CPI(M) leadership has expressed continuing support to the agitation by AAI employees against any move towards airport privatisation.

Though there was no disruption in air services, the scene at the airport was chaotic. Some parts of the airport concourse were without power and water supply remained suspended.

Facilities such as the air-conditioning system, conveyor belts and the aerobridge were inoperative and the IAF personnel continued to assist the authorities in maintaining emergency fire-fighting services.

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