CPM says handing over airports is 'gross violation' of CMP

New Delhi, Apr 4 (UNI) The Communist Party of India (Marxist) today reacted angrily to the handing over of the Mumbai and Delhi airports to private companies saying it was a ''gross violation'' of the Common Minimum Programme.

CPI (M) Polit Bureau said it strongly disapproves the agreement signed between the Airports Authority of India and joint venture companies GMR and GVK groups today as the CMP states that profit-making companies would not be privatised.

The CMP also says that all privatisation would be considered on a transparent and consultative case-by-case basis, the party said while calling today's agreement a ''mockery of transparency''.

The agreement was also a violation of the commitment of the government to the employees of the Airports Authority of India that all issues including modernisation of airports would be discussed in a government-AAI-employees tripartie committee.

''This act of the government ahead of such discussion in the tripartite committee is a clear breach of that agreement,'' said the CPI (M) Polit Bureau.

Today's signing of the shareholders agreement allows the private companies to operate, maintain, finance and manage the Mumbai and Delhi airports.

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