Badal writes to PM on RCF conversion to PSU

Chandigarh, Apr 1 (UNI) In the wake of suicide by Budh Singh, an employee of Rail Coach Factory (RCF), Kapurthala the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Parkash Singh Badal today shot off a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh urging him to halt the proposed move to convert the RCF into a Public Sector Undertaking (PSU).

He demanded immediate withdrawl of this proposal and a categorical statement in this regard by either the Prime Minister or the Union Railways Minister.

Mr Badal also demanded that the incumbent General Manager Of RCF who is considered to be the brain behind this ''ill-conceived'' proposal be transferred. He also demanded compensation to the family of the deceased and a job for a member of his family in the RCF.

Budh Singh had yesterday hanged himself from a ceiling fan in his quarter situated on the factory premises. His wife had alleged that her husband took this extreme step as he feared that he might loose his job after the railway unit was converted into a PSU.

In the letter, a copy of which has also been sent to Union Railways Minister Lalu Prasad, the Akali leader claimed that there was wide spread resentment and sense of insecurity amongst the employees of the factory.

''From the day, this proposal was moved in Parliament, all employees and their families are on the warpath. But no concrete steps have been taken by the Railways Ministry to allay the fears of the agitating employees and the situation is worsening day-by-day', Mr Badal claimed in the letter.

While requesting the Prime Minister to intervene into the matter without any delay, Mr Badal warned that if timely action was not taken, the situation could take a serious turn.

UNI HS YA KP1748