'Anti-Assamese lobby all-pervasive in OIL'

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, July 6: Alleging that an anti-Assamese lobby has spread its tentacles within the Duliajan-headquartered Oil India Limited, gaining complete control of the PSU, the Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad  today served an ultimatum of 72 hours to the government to clarify as to why Rupshikha Saikia Borah was not appointed as the CMD "despite her selection".

The AJYCP, which staged a demonstration in front of the OIL main gate, also threatened an oil field shutdown if the government failed to convince the people of Assam on the issue.

"We have seen that over the last few years, a strong anti-Assamese lobby has taken over the affairs of Oil India Limited. Rupshikha Saikia Borah's appointment was also stalled by this anti-Assamese lobby. Instead, an outsider was put on the chair forcibly," AJYCP's Duliajan unit general secretary Rapratap Barua said.

He alleged that the PSU is gradually privatizing its functions, spelling doom for its future. The AJYCP also submitted a memorandum to the deputy commissioner stating its demands. The Centre had recently med U P Singh, a Joint Secretary in Oil Ministry, as the interim chairman of OIL, after appointment of a regular head was delayed because of questions being raised on the shortlisted candidate.  Former chairman SK Srivastava had retired on June 30.

Singh was made acting chairman after questions were raised over selection of Rupshikha Saikia Borah, Director (Fince), OIL, to lead the company, by government headhunters Public Enterprise Selection Board (PESB).

PESB, which had in November last year found all candidates including Borah not suitable for the job, had in February this year shortlisted her after initiating the process afresh.  Normally, in cases where appointment of a regular chairman is delayed, the interim charge is handed over to the senior-most director on the company board. In case of OIL, Rupsikha Borah, who is the wife of former OIL Chairman and Maging Director BC Borah, is the senior-most director. She had become Director (Fince) in October, 2013.