Uproar over PSU posts to BJP leaders

New Delhi: A huge political controversy broke out on Friday over reports that BJP has nominated its members on boards of PSU companies including NALCO, EIL, HPCL and BHEL among others.

“SEBI had said that independent members should be inducted on boards of PSUs but BJP has nominated its own members making a  mockery of market regulator,” said senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal on Friday.

He said that instead of people, good days have come for BJP members who have been put on board of Navaratna PSU boards NALCO, EIL and HPCL among others. Mr Sibal said that now PSUs will do what BJP directors will ask them. Reacting over the reports, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury said: “Maximum Bhashan Minimum Shasan.”

According to reports, Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has appointed at least 10 politicians affiliated with BJP as independent directors on the boards of top public sector companies. Among BJP politician whose name have come out include BJP’s Delhi unit vice president Shazia Ilmi, Gujarat IT cell convenor Rajika Kacheria, minority face of the BJP in Gujarat Asifa Khan, former BJP MLA candidate from Odisha Surama Padhy and former Bihar MLC Kiran Ghai Sinha among others.

Ms Ilmi who left AAP led by Arvind Kejriwal and later joined BJP has been reported to have been appointed as an independent director in Engineers India Ltd (EIL). However, EIL website didnt show Ms Ilmi name among directors. Kacheria has been reported to have been appointed as independent director of the Cotton Corporation and Sinha as an independent director of NALCO.