New Delhi, 17 June

Reneging on the assurances given by successive defence ministers, the latest in August 2019 in the wake of the historic strike of defence employees, the Modi government has chosen to implement its plan to dissolve the Ordnance Factory Board and transform the forty one ordnance factories into seven corporate entities. Corporatisation is a well known first step towards privatisation and the government assurances of protecting employee interests are just an eyewash. Corporatisation will be coupled with the opening up of the defence sector to indiscriminate FDI. Together, these two shifts will weaken the backbone of India's defence industry and strategic preparedness while hampering the present and future interests of defence employees.

CPIML calls upon the Modi government to withdraw this decision and listen to the considered and united voice of ordnance employees. We also appeal to the Indian working class and the farmers' movement to extend full support to the defence employees in their struggle against corporatisation.

- Dipankar Bhattacharya 
General Secretary, CPIML