Modi govt busy selling off profitable PSUs: Kharge

New Delhi: Congress' Chief Mallikarjun Kharge tweeted a video on Wednesday wherein he opposed Modi government's approach towards disinvestments in PSUs that are profitable and providing jobs to poor people to fulfill their needs. In the video, the president of the Congress was addressing the 33rd INTUC plenary session that took place in the Talkatora Stadium, New Delhi. During the event, Kharge also pointed out that workers and labourers have never been a part of the government's priority list.

Govt is busy selling off profitable PSUs without taking workers' into consideration

While opposing the centre, Kharge asked, "Why the government is stopping PSUs?" Kharge commented, "In this country, 247 PSUs are there. Out of these, 188 PSUs are profitable. The total profit that the PSUs have earned so far is worth Rs 2 crores 49 lakhs while the loss is only Rs 15,000 crores. Yet, government is closing them down."

Further, Kharge took a jibe and stated that the government can provide loans worth Rs 80,000 crores to Adani but is unwilling to take into consideration the workers' who are working in the PSUs and shutting down them completely.

Around 5 lakh PSU jobs have been affected: Kharge

Commenting on the number of employees working in the PSUs, Kharge said, "In 2014, around more than 13 lakh people were working in PSUs and now, only eight lakh people are working. Around five lakh jobs have been affected due to this. Still, the centre keeps saying that they are going to provide two crore jobs every year. Furthermore, he said that 18 lakh people were employed in railways in 2014 but now, the number has reduced drastically to 11.8 lakh people. Around seven lakh jobs got affected due to this."

'Govt focusing on daily wage & contractual jobs only'

Further, the Congress chief said, "The jobs at PSUs are assured and secured which are helping poor people to feed their families and fulfill their basic needs. Yet, the government led by PM Modi is focusing too much on contract labour and daily wages."

Kharge added, "At least, there are 30 lakh vacancies in the government sector. Why is government not focusing on filling them?" Further, he said that the government is simply making false promises in the name of providing jobs.

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