PF scam: Power employees protest against investment in DHFCL

LUCKNOW: Enraged with the alleged provident fund (PF) scam involving investment of their hard earned money in tainted Dewan Housing and Finance Corporation Limited (DHFCL), power employees staged a protest at Shakti Bhawan, the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) headquarters, in state capital Lucknow on Tuesday.
The employees, under the aegis of UP Rajya Vidyut Karmachari Sangharsh Samiti, demanded that the state government take the guarantee of the money which has been invested by the UP state power sector employee trust in various unscheduled financial institutions including DHFCL, PNN housing and LIC housing Limited.
Samiti convener Shailendra Dubey said that UPPCL chairman Alok Kumar, who also happens to be the chairman of the trust, should own the responsibility of the anomaly and step down. The union in a statement also demanded that Kumar be arrested for the alleged scam as he could influence the ongoing inquiry by the economic and offence wing.
"More than Rs 3,000 crore was invested in DHFCL during the tenure of Kumar and therefore he should be held responsible for the anomaly," Dubey said.
Angry power employee started gathering at the UPPCL headquarters in the afternoon before taking out a foot march around the two buildings housing the offices of UPPCL chairman and energy minister Srikant Sharma. Raising slogans against the UPPCL management, the employee said that the state government cannot shy away from its responsibility of ensuring public welfare.
The agitation came a day after the state government removed UPPCL managing director Aparna U and posted her as secretary in the irrigation department.