There is no denying that the BJP-led combine at the Centre is hell-bent in pursing a policy of liberalisation, which pampers the private sector and intends to close down all public sector industries. Such a discriminatory policy was also being followed by the previous Congress Government, which even imported railway engines from the ABB Company in Switzerland. Wagons too were imported relegating the demand of the indigenous units, which had built up capacities for manufacturing different types of rolling stocks such as engines, wagons and passenger coaches.

The Chittaranjan Locomotive factory, the premier public sector railway engine-manufacturing unit, off Asansol is now gasping for want of orders from the Vajpayee government. The condition of the diesel Locomotive-manufacturing unit, another public sector unit at Varanasi is no better either. Moves were also afoot to import wagons but the present Central Government backed out following protests from all corners.

To revert to the recent cut in the wagon order. Refusing to rest content with the slashing of the wagon order, the Railway Board has demanded refund of the advance money given to the wagon manufacturing units. What does it all speak about? The conclusion one should draw is that the Centre has renewed its conspiracy to wipe out the country's wagon industry, particularly the units in the public sector, which cannot survive without the orders from the Railways. Orders for different types of wagons were placed on the wagon units following intervention of the BIFR which wanted the central government to do the needful so that these units could thrive and protect the jobs of their workers. If the orders are withdrawn, the units will again fall sick threatening the security of employment of the workers again and the existence of the units as well.

Amidst this utmost fearful situation, the workers employed in the state's wagon industry has demanded of the Railway Minister that the cut in the wagon order for 1998-99 be restored; that the advance money given to the units should not be refunded as the units have already spent the money for executing the order and that provision be made in the forthcoming Railway budget for 1999-2000 for adequate orders for wagons. Around 75% of the next year's order for wagon should be on units recommended by Wagon India.