CPM warns govt on airport projects

The CPI(M) has strongly criticised the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government for the privatisation of the Delhi and Mumbai airports and charged that the government was violating the common minimum programme.

The Manmohan Singh government "alone will be held responsible for the consequences of the course it has adopted", the party said.

The shareholders agreement and the OMDA document signed between the AAI and private companies to "allow them the right to operate, maintain, finance and manage the airport" was drawn up today.

The party reminded the UPA government that the common minimum programme explicitly stated that "generally profit-making companies will not be privatised" and "all privatisation will be considered on a transparent and consultative merit basis."

The party pointed out that the contracts had been signed when charges of irregularity were still under judicial scrutiny.

"The act of signing the documents is a violation of the commitment of the government to employees of the AAI that all issues including modernisation of airports will be discussed at a government-AAI employees tripartite committee," said the CPI(M), charging that the government had breached this agreement and would be responsible for the consequences.