BSNL employees stage protest dharna

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 16: Members of the Forum of Non-Executive and Executive Employees of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) Unions and Associations of Jammu Telecom District held protest dharna here today on the call given by Forum of BSNL Union and Association, New Delhi.
The country wide agitational programme was held in protest against the Central Cabinet decision of forming of subsidiary tower company by hiving off the 65000 mobile towers, brushing aside employees genuine demand not to form subsidiary companies. They said that the decision is against the workers and BSNL and the Government is trying to form many subsidiary companies, with the aim to weaken the BSNL with ultimate objective of privatizing it.
The agitating employees claimed that it was first round the protest programme and it will be followed in due course of time after taking collective decision at national level union members. In Jammu the protest dharna was held under the leadership of N S Manhas Circle president BSNL (EU) and Gitten Singh Circle president NFTE (BSNL). Both of them addressed the gathering and strongly condemned the decision of the Union Government. They said that this new Government after coming to power has cleared its intensions to go for the privatization of LIC, Coal India, Railways, BSNL and others just to provide benefit to the big Corporate Houses. They appealed the workers to get ready for long struggle.
Prominent among others who participated included Ramesh Chander Sharma, Manjit Singh, Rai Singh, Ram Krishan, S K Moza, S K Mahaldar, P K Bali, Amrik Singh, Anil Sharma, M K Koul and Sanjay Pandita.