Accusing the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government of indulging in corruption during “its last days in office”, the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today demanded Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to sack Union Communications Minister A Raja for allegedly helping his friend get franchise of state-run BSNL’s new high-speed internet service.

“The UPA government has perhaps decided to loot the nation in its last days in office. Reports suggest that the communications minister has helped five companies of his friend Sanjay Kapoor get franchise of BSNL’s Wi Max (high-speed internet) service,” alleged BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar.

“We demand the prime minister to sack Raja immediately,” he told reporters here. The BJP spokesperson claimed that out of the six companies short-listed for franchise, five belonged to Kapoor.

“The companies were registered on a single date (November 7, 2008) with same notary, same auditor, same witnesses, same address and same email id,” he added.

He said if the process of allotment goes ahead, “it will mean giving 20 MHz of spectrum without any investment and offering free use of BSNL’s assets including its 20,000 offices, 50,000 towers and two million km of optical fibre cable...This is corruption to the tune of thousands and crores of rupees.”

The BJP also demanded stopping the allotment process.

Regularization of Officiating JTOs (Qualified TTAs) : We requested for regular promotion of 2200 officiating JTOs as regular JTOs: GM(Estt.) informed that court case in Punjab and Haryana High Court at Chandigarh is still pending and the next date of hearing is given 22nd July'2009

The BSNL Non-Executives all over the country expressed their sharp anger and spontaneous protest against the very meager advance as also the arbitrary orders issued by BSNL management.While BSNLEU and United Forum demanded for 50% salary or Rs. 3000/- p.m. whichever ismore as interim relief, the BSNL management offered only two months basic pay as advance.During discussions, CMD offered 4 months basic pay as advance. BSNLEU did not accept the offer, stating that it is too meager.But the management arbitrarily issued orders on 30th April 2009 for payment of adjustable advance of four months basic pay only. The management should never have issued such an order, which is under discussion with the recognized union.Hence, the protest walk-out from duty/office and massive hunger strike at Corporate office on 4th May 2009 were organized within a very short time.

CHQ congratulates the entire workers for organizing the action programmes with participation ofmaximum workers.Whether to accept the adjustable advance or not?Some comrades have requested us to give a call for boycott of the advance, since it is verymeager and decision is arbitrarily taken. We understand and appreciate the feelings of these comrades. The Central Secretariat after detailed discussion has decided to call upon the workers to take the advance and at the same time continue our struggle. Our attention should not be diverted from the prime target and division amongst workers should not be allowed to take place. Our maximum efforts now should be to make the two days strike on 19th and 20th May 2009 a resounding success.