The Hindu : National : BSNL unions oppose ‘disinvestment move’

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BSNL unions oppose ‘disinvestment move’

Sandeep Joshi

NEW DELHI: Accusing the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) management and senior Department of Telecommunications (DoT) officials of “mischievous propaganda” regarding the state-owned telecom firm, trade union leaders on Monday threatened to go on a nationwide strike to thwart the Centre’s ‘plans for its disinvestment or privatisation.’

“In last week’s meeting with Union Communications and Information Technology Minister A. Raja, we clearly told him that employees and executives were opposed to the listing of BSNL. Even Mr. Raja reportedly conveyed our views to senior BSNL and DoT officials. Surprisingly, BSNL and DoT officials are now falsely propagating our support for listing of the state-owned telecom firm,” said BSNL Employees Union general secretary V.A.N. Namboodiri at a press conference here.

The United Forum of BSNL Unions and the Joint Forum of BSNL Unions were opposed to the move. Mr. Namboodiri said the Centre was giving “frivolous reasons” for BSNL’s disinvestment.

“Like Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, BSNL can also be given ‘navratna’ status without getting listed. Similarly, there is no dearth of liquidity to fund BSNL’s expansion plans as over Rs. 30,000 crore is already lying unused.

The government just wants to sell BSNL off like the Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited that was given away to the Tata Group,” he added.

Mr. Namboodiri said the unions would also not let the government impose the voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) on the central telegraphic office employees. The BSNL management had given a written assurance that VRS would not be forced on them, but now it was ‘claiming’ that the unions had agreed to the move, he alleged.

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