Kalka Congress leaders discuss HMT issue with Rahul Gandhi

PANCHKULA: Ahead of elections, Congress leaders from

Kalka

constituency raised the issue of Hindustan Machines Tools (HMT) unit in

Pinjore

with Congress president Rahul Gandhi during his visit to Jagadhari recently. The closure of the HMT unit had rendered many jobless.


Kalka Congress leaders are of the opinion that if Gandhi could assure the revival of HMT, it could bring the party votes in large numbers.

HMT convenor and congress leader from Kalka, advocate Vijay Bansal, alleged that the BJP led government ruined the largest industry of the north region and made many people jobless. Bansal stated that he met Gandhi during his visit and briefed him about what had happened with regard to HMT.

Bansal said, "Gandhi has assured that he will revive the HMT if he will be supported from this region."

Pinjore and Kalka towns owe their development to the HMT factory. "HMT was the lifeline of lakhs of people here,"said Bansal.

HMT was inaugurated by the then prime minister Jawahar Lal Nehru on October 23, 1963. On October 27, 2016, the Union government in a meeting decided to shut down the tractor unit of HMT, following which officers as well as workers were made to take voluntary retirement service.