Left parties protest Centre's decision to auction oil fields

FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT
SIVASAGAR, September 15: CPI, in collaboration with other left parties in Sivasagar, protested against the Central Government’s decision to auction 69 discovered oil and gas fields of the ONGC and Oil India Limited. Of the 69 idle oil and gas fields of ONGC and Oil India Limited which are to be auctioned, as many as 10 discoveries in the Assam Shelf are also on offer. Taking out a protest rally from zira town playground, more than 500 activists of CPI, Forward Block, CPI (M), led by CPI district committee secretary Kak Gogoi, gathered in front of ONGC, Assam Asset Head Office gate at zira and held a protest meeting. Thaneswar Khankiar of CPI (M), Ratneswar Gogoi of Forward Block and Bitul Gogoi of ONGC Contractual Labour Association strongly protested the government’s decision to go for auctioning 69 identified discovered oil and gas fields, terming the move as handing over tiol assets to capitalists,  both domestic and foreign. The protesters later sent memoranda to the Prime Minister and CMD, ONGC demanding withdrawal of the decision to auction 69 oil and gas fields to private firms.