Min: Centre will ensure Salem Steel Plant employees’ welfare

Salem: Union minister of state for steel Faggan Singh Kulaste on Sunday assured that the welfare of the employees of Salem Steel Plant would be protected even as he refused to comment on the privatization of the plant.

However, he said, steps were being taken to run the Salem steel plant in a profitable manner. He was in the city to pay tribute to Dr B R Ambedkar on his 64th death anniversary.

“The Union government and my department will not work against the employees’ welfare. The BJP government will protect them.”

The minister also held a meeting with the steel plant officials.

Earlier in the day, Faggan Singh Kulaste had garlanded Dr Ambedkar’s statue on Cherry Road near Mulluvadi railway gate in the city. He said Ambedkar had dedicated his entire life for the scheduled people and his sacrifices had to be remembered on his death anniversary.

The minister said the BJP government had been working on turning Ambedkar’s birth place, death place and the places where he studied and lived as monuments. “They will be opened for the public soon.”

The minister was accompanied by Tamil Nadu scheduled tribe wing in charge Ramasamy, state secretary of the scheduled tribe Suresh Kumar, district BJP president Suresh Babu, party general secretary Sasikumar, east district BJP president Manikandan and other party functionaries.