BJP extends support to strike, urges Centre to drop divest plans

Chennai, July 5 (UNI) Extending support to the indefinite strike launched by employees of the Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC), the BJP today urged the Centre to drop its decision to divest ten per cent of its equity in the public sector undertaking.

In a statement here, BJP leader and former Union Minister S Thirunavukkarasar said about 25,000 workers, irrespective of their party affiliations, had launched an agitation for a just demand.

There was a danger of Tamil Nadu and its neighbouring states plunging into darkness as power generation would be affected by the workers' strike, he said and condemned the Centre for remaining in a ''deep slumber.'' As the NLC, which made the state and the country proud, was a profit-making PSU, the Centre should concede to the workers' just demand, he said.

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