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Don’t prolong your agitation, Deora appeals to oil sector officers

Murli Deora

CHENNAI: Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Murli Deora on Thursday appealed to the officers of public sector oil companies to refrain from prolonging their agitation as it was not in the interest of the country.

Mr. Deora said the government believed in dialogue and settlement, and was not for confrontation. They should come for negotiations.

Referring to the hardship caused to all, particularly housewives, children and senior citizens, due to the strike that began on Wednesday, he said the agitation was in nobody’s interest.

Talking to The Hindu, the Minister hoped that a solution was possible through talks.

The government was serious about the issues concerning the officers and trying to find a solution. It had constituted a Group of Ministers (GoM) headed by Home Minister P.Chidambaram to look into the issues.

“The Prime Minister was kind enough to constitute the committee [GoM] immediately and it will go into all these demands [of the officers]. Mr. Chidambaram has also had two discussions.”

As many of the demands do not come under the purview of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, the GoM was constituted.

The government would take action based on its report, which would be submitted within a month.

On the options before the government, he said, “they [officers] are our people… give them a chance.”

At the same time, he underscored the duties of a government responsible to the public.

The officers should not lose sight of the fact that it was difficult to get good jobs. They should also remember that they have families and children, Mr. Deora said.

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