K.T. Rama Rao, the working president of Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and the state’s Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development, has called for a ‘Maha Dharna’ in Telangana against the privatisation of Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL). The SCCL is a government-owned coal mining company in Telangana, and KTR’s call for a protest comes in response to the central government’s decision to allow private players to bid for a 23.5% stake in the company. The move has been met with widespread opposition from political parties and trade unions in the state, who fear that it will lead to the loss of jobs and benefits for SCCL employees.
In a series of tweets, KTR urged all political parties and trade unions in Telangana to come together and join the ‘Maha Dharna’ against the privatisation of SCCL. He argued that the move would not only affect the livelihoods of SCCL employees but also have a ripple effect on the state’s economy. KTR also accused the central government of neglecting the interests of Telangana and prioritising the interests of private players over those of the state’s people.
The ‘Maha Dharna’ is scheduled to take place on August 2, 2021, at the SCCL headquarters in Kothagudem. The TRS has also called for a bandh in the state on the same day to protest against the privatisation of SCCL. The party has also threatened to intensify its agitation if the central government does not withdraw its decision. The move to privatise SCCL has been met with opposition not only in Telangana but also in other coal-rich states like Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh, where similar protests have been organised by political parties and trade unions.
In conclusion, KTR’s call for a ‘Maha Dharna’ in Telangana against the privatisation of SCCL highlights the growing opposition to the central government’s decision to allow private players to bid for a stake in the company. The move has been met with concerns about job losses and the impact on the state’s economy. The ‘Maha Dharna’ and the bandh on August 2, 2021, are expected to be a show of strength by the TRS and other political parties and trade unions in the state, who are demanding that the central government withdraw its decision. The outcome of the protests remains to be seen, but it is clear that the issue of privatisation of SCCL is likely to remain a contentious one in Telangana and other coal-rich states.
