Trade union leaders have vehemently opposed finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s announcement of allowing private firms to enter the coal sector.

The general secretary of Rashtriya Colliery Mazdoor Sangh, A.K. Jha, said: “This is the biggest blow to lakhs of workers in the coal sector because with the entry of private players, exploitation of workers increases manifold. Also, private firms damage the environment with irresponsible mining. We won’t let the government’s plan succeed.”

Octogenarian trade union leader and former general secretary of Citu S.K. Baxi said: “The coal industry is devastated after the BJP government’s announcement. Their aim is to benefit its capitalist friends.”

Bindeshwari Prasad, the state general secretary of Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, also condemned the decision.