Ordnance Factory staff holds dharna in TN

Tiruchirapalli, Apr 27: More than 2,000 employees of the Ordnance Factory here affiliated to the All India Defence Employees Federation (AIDEF) resorted to a dawn-to-dusk dharna protesting Centre's privatisation policy in Defence industry.

The employees raised slogans against the Union Goverment for its proposal to privatise Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and various establishments under the Army, Navy and the Air Force.

Addressing the gathering,Ordnance Factory Tiruchirapalli Employees Union President S Alageswaran said the Kelkar Committee recommendations and the government permitting 26 per cent Foreign Direct Investment in Defence sector was against national interests.

This will ultimately result in private sector holding control of the entire Defence production, he said and warned the employees will not remain mute spectators to such a 'conspiracy.'

UNI