CBI probe sought into BrahMos Aerospace

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: CPI leader and BrahMos Employees’ Union (AITUC) president Kanam Rajendran on Wednesday demanded a CBI inquiry into the status of BrahMos Aerospace Thiruvananthapuram Ltd (BATL). Addressing a press conference here, he said that BATL, formed by taking over the state government-run KELTEC, has altogether ceased to be a public sector entity. ‘’It will be remembered that KELTEC land of 22.5 acres and machinery were handed over for a token Re 1 for establishing BATL,’’ Rajendran said. BATL management has curtailed several benefits enjoyed by employees under KELTEC. Following complaints, the company has now removed ‘Govt of India’ tags from its letterheads, vehicles and boards, Rajendran said. Norms were also being violated in the matter of appointments, he added. Although BATL was formed over three years ago, the purpose for which it was established - assembling BrahMos cruise missiles - has not been achieved. The company survives on ISRO projects, its mainstay. It has to take part in competitive tenders to be allocated work from the Defence and Research Development Organisation (DRDO), he said.