Scrap the controversial GO-5: CPI-M

Hyderabad, Aug 2 (UNI) State Secretary of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) B V Raghavulu today demanded the Andhra Pradesh Government to scrap the controversial GO-5 to remove fears and speculation among the employees.

Replying to Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy's open letter, he said the CPI-M was hopeful that the government would scrap the GO considering the views and anguish expressed by the employees and the political parties.

Mr Reddy through his open letter tried to mislead the employees stating that the government would not privatise the state Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) nor retrench the employees, he alleged.

He also took objection to the statement of Finance Minister K Rosaiah that the GO was issued not for implementation but only to pressurise the employees to work hard.

Mr Raghavulu said it was clearly mentioned in the GO that the government proposed to retrench the 65,000 employees in 30 PSUs in the next three years.

Instead of asking the employees to believe the Chief Minisiter's words through the letter, the government could have scraped the GO to allay fears, he remarked.

He said, the cabinet had approved the third phase of reforms mentioned in the GO at a cabinet meeting on July seven and as per the decision the GO was issued on July 18. He asked to prove its authenticity.

Mr Raghavulu had earlier, showed the media a purported copy of GO-5 under which he alleged was to retrench about 65,000 employees of the Public Sector Singareni Collieries and the APSRTC during the next three years in accordance with the directions of the World Bank for the sanction of structural adjustment loans UNI BR JJ LS BD2243