New Delhi: Government on October 4 came in for sharp criticism from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ally Shiv Sena as also Opposition Congress and Communist Party of India – Marxist (CPM) for its proposal to privatise Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), one of the biggest companies in the world.

"We are totally opposed to the decision of the government in regard to privatisation of IOC or any branch thereof like marketing. We are opposed to sale of government equity in oil sector, which we consider strategic in nature," Congress spokesperson S Jaipal Reddy said.

"The Disinvestment Minister is converting India's self-reliance into the Vajpayee government's 'self' and 'Reliance'," CPM said in a statement, referring to India's largest private sector firm Reliance Industries.

All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) and CITU in a joint statement argued that the Cabinet Committee on Disinvestment (CCD) decision was neither an act of economic prudence nor in national interest.

AITUC and CITU appealed to trade unions, particularly those belonging to the oil PSUs (public sector undertakings), to launch "militant" struggle including strikes against the privatisation programme.

PTI