Karuna urges Sonia Gandhi to step in

DMK chief M Karunanidhi on Thursday sought UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi's intervention to withdraw the Centre's decision to disinvest 5 per cent stake in the PSU. In a letter to Gandhi, Karunanidhi recalled that a similar situation had arisen in 2006 when the DMK was in power, with NLC trade unions going on strike against a decision by the Centre then to sell off a 10 per cent stakes. He had written to her then, seeking a withdrawal of the decision, he said.

Then to there had been strong opposition to disinvestment of a 10 per cent stakes in NLC, with employees embarking on a strike, prompting the government to withdraw its decision after the situation became alarming', he said.

'I request you once again that the Government should reconsider its recent decision, because it involves the problems of 25,000 employees and if the strike continues, power generation will be totally affected... hence I request you to impress upon the Government to consider the impact of this decision and withdraw the policy of disinvestment of shares in NLC,' he said.

Copies of the letter were sent to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Finance Minister P Chidambaram.