Srikant Jena Threatens Agitation Against Disinvestment Of NINL, Calls It Centre-Odisha Govt Conspiracy

Bhubaneswar: Former Union Minister Srikant Jena on Sunday said any move to privatise Neelachal Ispat Nigam Limited (NINL) would be opposed tooth and nail. Stating that it was against the interest of the people of Odisha, he alleged that the decision to disinvest NINL was part of a “conspiracy” by the Centre and the Odisha government to hand it over to industrialists.

Jena said Samajik Nyaya Abhijan (SNA), a social organisation, would launch a state-wide agitation against disinvestment of the joint venture company in collaboration with trade unions.

It may be recalled that the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), had recently given an in principle approval for strategic disinvestment of NINL, a joint venture of the Centre and Odisha government through their public sector enterprises.

Jena accused the Centre of delaying environmental clearance for the captive iron ore mine allocated to the company. He also claimed the state government could have infused funds from its Odisha Mining Corporation for making the company viable, but it showed “little concern for the ailing unit.”

Requesting Congress leaders to speak up against the move to privatise the company instead of remaining silent, he said NINL was a gift to the people of Odisha from former Chief Minister J B Patnaik.