From correspondents in Tamil Nadu, India, 10:00 PM IST
Union IT and Telecom Minister A. Raja Saturday said he would quit if charges levelled against him by Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) employees during last Monday's nationwide strike were proved.
The minister's comments came ahead of a board meeting of the state-run BSNL scheduled slated for Monday to rework its much talked about multi-billion 45.5 million GSM line tender.
According to industry sources, staff of the state-run BSNL went on strike for not being able to conclude discussions with Raja and the department of telecommunications (DoT) about the placing of contracts with regard to laying the GSM lines by selected vendors.
Meanwhile, the DMK minister has set his eyes on the Rs.300 billion available in the defence ministry for BSNL in an attempt to deflect criticism from the angry BSNL employees.
'I have not cancelled the BSNL tender and my actions have not adversely affected the undertaking. I have only raised a few queries on the tender itself and requested revision of the bid to enable purchase of additional equipment for our mobile services. The exercise will save a lot of money for the exchequer,' Raja said.
'Spectrum, a defence ministry body, has an unspent corpus of Rs.300 billion meant for augmenting its communication needs. As my ministry certainly knows more about the subject, this fund should be transferred to us which will help us to expand the broadband network and rural telephony,' he added.
Last week, Raja had charged his predecessor Dayanidhi Maran with an attempt to squander BSNL funds to the tune of Rs.100 billion.
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well BSNL tender mess is not seems to be created by any one. it is a systematic failure there is lacuna in the system of finalising the tenders as prescribed by the government. the current tendr procedures have to be dispensed with and introduce new tendering sysytem for taking quick decisions. an institutional arrnagement like tender expert commission an independen body whoose decision in all such PSU tender disputes should be final and bindins on all. rather than seen only by a section of official and Minister himeself.
BSNL should be permitted to manage its affairs. But, who is BSNL? Is it the MoC&IT or BSNL board or the employees of BSNL? MoC & IT is responsible to the people as a representative of them in the Govt. People should be made aware of BSNL's weak position due to delay in finalisation of GSM tender. This has been achieved partially by the strike of employees on 11-7. Blaming it on one section of employees is not correct. Blame on the common controlling officer for a mess. (i.e. if one division fails blame the DE, if one district is not performing blame it on SSA Head, if entire state is badly performing, blame goes to CGMT, if entire BSNL is bad, blame it on Board and Govt.) No board member is on deputation and hence the blame on deputationists should be taken off. BSNL is in bad shape in landline business, where capacities are available and no file is pending with Govt/MoC. Govt/MoC did not come in the way of Broad band business of BSNL, but there are no capacities for the last one year(it may be available shortly)
it is not govt it is being done by some vested intrestee pvt co.or as mr.maran said some nri who is backing it truth must be come out it is not the time to blame any union or association at this moment for BSNL it is required that all must be on their task of subs services
I fully support the view that the ITS lobby is responsible for the mess thats BSNL today. This may be unique exaple in the universe where the powers are vested with outsiders in the organization, who had openly said that the orginazationj nis going to sink and hence have, for their own sefety preferred/managed to stay as ousiders in the organization, and r still vested with all the powers, without any liabality, accountability.
why the file approval for tender was kept with minister from 18th may to almost 5th july ? this is big something ambiguous. pl think on it. thanks
The strike of 11th July was Total .But after the strike we have to see who is the culprit whether it is a Minister or the Management .In my Opnion the ITS lobby who is not a BSNL employ is the Culprit and we have to crackdown that lobby.So my request to our leaders and friend to chokeout a programme for kickingout the non-BSNL / anti-BSNL people from the Enterprise to save the company and thereby saving the Nation
Regarding GSM Tender of 45.5 million line Tender, the truth must come out in the intrest of public as wel as for BSNL company-world"s 7 th Largest PSU & India"s first largest co./PSU working for public interst & maintaining its Social responsibilities
Thanks a lot
namaskar & Good Morning. I have read the news regarding 45.5 Million GSM Tender,for which entire BSNL Employees gone on the strike on 11 th.It was historical stike never happen in BSNL History. The demand was for public not for employee. BSNL & MTNL has a defference situation for comparisition.Because MTNL serves only two mega cities like Mumbai & New-Delhi,While BSNL gives its services to entire country and in small village area, hilly area etc. the prime cost for the same is imp. part. BSNL is a Govt. Company so, socislal Duty is very important Part.3G Technology is also very Important for our nation ,public is not known regarding its benifit.it is a duty of concerned that the benifits of 3G Technology should be informed to public.BSNLEU is fight for Public,
Thanks a lot
Raja Must quit. As the Minister for Telecom, it is his responsibility to see that the necessary equipments are made availbale at the appropriate time. Raja must explain why BSNL has been pushed to 4th position. During the tenure of Maran, BSNL could improve its performance. After the taking over of Mr. Raja, the performance has come down. That speaks of the efficiency of the Minister.
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