All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) Protests Against Oil-Field Privatization

GUWAHATI: Following much dissent against the central government’s decision to privatize the Geleki Oil-field, the All India Trade Union Congress: Assam State Committee (AITUC) has severely condemned the decision. Objecting that the move is anti-Assamese, the union has commented that the decision to hand over the oil-field to the multi-national company Sloan Berger is a conspiracy to annihilate the ONGC (Oil and Natural Gas Corporation).

The union alleged that the centre, with an aim to reduce import of crude oil by 10 percent by increasing the production is selling off profitable oil-fields to multi-national companies. “The oil-fields trade to big companies is being done all over India and especially in Assam, which are basically under ONGC and OIL (Oil India Limited). As such, it is clear that this conspiracy is hatched by an anti-Assamese wheel, bent on breaking the economy of the state”, said a member of the union.

The union further alleged that if profitable oil-fields are sold off in this manner, it will drastically reduce the production and size of ONGC. As a result, Assam government will lose out on oil royalty. The employment generation will decrease and the entire social development will cease.

Protesting that the move will break Assam’s economic backbone, which is ONGC, the union also alleged that certain retired ONGC officers and specialists are involved in the conspiracy. The prime angst was, however, against the Chief Minister of the state and the union questioned about the CMs silence over the whole matter. “It is mystery as to why and under whose threats is the CM maintaining a tight-lip over the situation”, questioned the union.

The union demanded that the privatization of the Geleki Oil-field be halted with immediate effect and concluded by saying that they have already started remonstration and will continue protesting until the central government relents to their demands.

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