Lobby advocating for privatisation of PSUs, alleges Power minister RK Singh

The NDA government hopes to raise around ₹2.1 lakh crore in fiscal 2020-21 by divesting all or part of its stakes in some state-owned companies. It has already started the process of selling its entire stake in Air India after an earlier effort to sell a majority stake in the state-owned airline failed.

Published on: Feb 14, 2020, 04:43:43 IST

Hindustan Times, Raipur | By Ritesh Mishra

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Union power minister RK Singh on Thursday alleged that a lobby continuously campaigned against public sector units ( PSUs) and advocated their privatisation. Singh started off by taking aim at the power sector -- he was speaking at the inaugural session of the National Thermal Power Corporation’s (NTPC) Indian Power Station (IPS) 2020 conference in Raipur -- but he soon expanded the scope of his remarks.

Union power minister RK Singh on Thursday alleged that a lobby continuously campaigned against public sector units ( PSUs). (HT File Photo)

On Air India, for instance, he said that while he would not speak about its proposed privatisation, he largely encounters state-owned airlines when he travels overseas.

The NDA government hopes to raise around ₹2.1 lakh crore in fiscal 2020-21 by divesting all or part of its stakes in some state-owned companies. It has already started the process of selling its entire stake in Air India after an earlier effort to sell a majority stake in the state-owned airline failed. Much of the Singh’s talk was focused on the pioneering role the public sector played in building India’s industrial base , however, he lashed out at what he termed the lobby that keeps “speaking out against PSUs”.

Senior Congress leader and spokesperson RP Singh said : “ His government is privatising everything...”.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More