Bengaluru: As previously announced, Rahul Gandhi, the Congress National President during his visit to the city on Saturday, October 13, will also interact with the employees and retired employees of Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL). But some employees of the company have announced that they would not be attending this meeting as they want to “keep away” from politics.General Secretary of HAL’s Employee’s Union, Suryadevara Chandra Shekhar voiced out that Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) had formally approached them and requested them to be present for the event but as a part of the government they are reluctant to take part in political events.
In the event, Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to speak and have an interactive session with the employees for at least 90 minutes at the HAL headquarters, he is also supposed to speak about HAL’s contribution to the development of the country.
But the company’s management has issued a circular warning the employees from participating in any political activities under the employees’ code of conduct. However, the circular also said that they would respect any individual’s choice but the company by itself would not participate in this event.
This interaction between the employees and Rahul Gandhi is of utmost importance in the backdrop of the controversial Rafale Deal.
Rahul Gandhi has also highlighted how the central government had repeatedly neglected the company even though it has a history of 70 years.
Even though the company has requested the employees to stay away from the event, they would still be compiling a list of problems to be conveyed to the central government.
Ananta Padmanabha, a retired HAL officer has stated that all the combat aircraft are being built by them and that their company is ranked sixth in the world in building aircraft and fourth in the world in aerospace and that they are more than capable of building the Rafale Jets.
