Hyderabad, Jun 26 (IANS): Telangana Rashtra Samithi-affiliated union of Singareni employees on Friday staged a protest over the Centre's decision to privatise coal mines.

Leaders and members of Telangana Boggu Ghani Karmika Sangham (TBGKS) staged protests at all the mines of Singareni Collieries Company Ltd (SCCL) in the state and also at the company's headquarters in Hyderabad.

The protestors raised slogans against the Cntral government for its decision to privatise 42 coal mines across the country.

TBGKS said the protest was organized on a call given by former MP K. Kavitha, who is the daughter of Telangana Chief Minister and TRS President K. Chandrashekhar Rao.

At the protest held at Singareni Bhavan in Hyderabad, TBGKS leaders raised slogans of 'Modi down down' and 'Save Singareni'. Holding placards, the protestors staged the sit-in at the office.

Raising slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, they also set afire an effigy. A couple of policemen were seen trying unsuccessfully to stop them.

TBGKS President Raji Reddy, Telangana Rashtra Samithi Karmika Vibhagam (TRSKV) President Ram Babu Yadav, and members of TBGKS participated in the protest at Singareni Bhavan.

They demanded the Central government to withdraw their decision to privatise coal mines. They also demanded the Centre to stop the e-auction of coal mines in the country.

TBGKS activists, and coal mine workers participated in huge numbers and alleged that the Centre's decision to privatise the coal mines is against the interests of the public undertakings.

The protests were also held at Singareni mines spread across different districts in Telangana. The district leaders of TBGKS called for participating in the July 2 strike called by national-level unions of the coal miners.

They said privatisation of a profit-making public sector undertaking would badly affect the interest of the workers. They said the employees would lose job security and various other benefits.