A meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour was held today, 23rd February  on the issues of the Casual and Contract workers in BSNL. This is the second meeting of the committee on this issue.

The first meeting was held on 14th January 2011 based on the Petition submitted to the Committee by me as the President of the BSNL Casual& Contract Workers Federation. Com. P.R.Natarajan, M.P., who is a member of the Committee took active interest in getting such a meeting. I had presented the case of regularisation of the Casual labour, the wages of Casual and Contract workers and also the social security benefits to the contract workers in the committee meeting. Since the replies given by the BSNL management on that day was casual and faulty, they were summoned for another session today.

To-day also, the management could not furnish satisfactory replies. I have intimated to the committee that in case more particulars are required, it can be given.

The casual and contract workers issues have become focussed after it has been taken by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour.

More than 5 lakh workers marched to Parliament almost blocking the Delhi roads completely as per the call of the Central Trade Unions and the national federations including BSNLEU. The workers were protesting against the price rise, anti-worker policies of the Government, focussing the issues of the unorganised workers as also against disinvestment and privatisation of PSUs.

Workers belonging to all trade unions participated in the march  with their flags, banners etc. They were stopped at the Parliament Police station where the massive rally was held. Central Trade unions leaders Dr. Sanjeeva Reddy (INTUC), Tapan Sen (CITU), Gurudas Dasgupta (AITUC) and other leaders addressed.

This huge rally was a warning to the Government to address to the concerns of the workers.

The address of Smt. Prathibha Patil, President of India, to the joint Session of Parliament heralding the Budget Session was delivered on 21st February. In her address she said that the UPA government is committed to addressing frontally the concern at the lack of probity, transparency and integrity in public life.

It is not only concern that is required. The government should take stringent action against all those who have abused power and had been lacking in probity, transparency and integrity. Will her government act? That is the moot question.

All those business czars are being exposed one after another. In connection with the 2G Scam , CBI is summoning the bosses of those telecom companies who got 2G license in 2008.

Reliance Chairman Anil Ambani, Essar CEO Prashant Ruia, Unitech MD Sanjay Chandra, Videocom Chairman Venugopal Dhoop, his brother and Member of Parliament Rajkumar Dhoot, DB Etisalat boss Shahid Balwa – all these have been summoned and grilled by CBI so far. More big business bosses are going to be summoned.

Corruption, bribery, manipulation and what not! The dirty tricks of these tycoons are being exposed one after another. The neo-liberal policies initiated by the Government has made all these a daily affair. Stringent action should be taken against the culprits, however mighty they are.

At last the Prime Minister has told the Parliament that he is agreeable to form a JPC to enquire in to the 2G scam. The opposition has welcomed the decision. The Speaker has been requested to form the JPC.

It is understood that the formal resolution to form the JPC will be moved shortly. The JPC will have the authority to call Ministers and even PM to give evidence before the committee. Prime Ministr has already told that he has no hesitation in appearing before the JPC.

The government has at last been compelled to accept the demand of the opposition for JPC in the 2G scam. It is a victory for the people of this country. The JPC should be effectively used to find out how the system was manipulated to suit the requirements of a few business people and to make huge windfall profits.

Government has at last agreed to constitute a Joint Parliament Committee (JPC) on 2G spectrum scam. As per the understanding reached in the all parties meeting called  by the Government, the Government will announce on the floor of the Parliament on 22nd February the constitution of the JPC. 2G alone will be the issue of JPC and not other scams also as demanded by the opposition.

The Government should have taken this decision at the time of the winter session of the Parliament itself and saved that session.

An article by senior journalist P.  Sainath is published  in the Editorial page of  Hindu dated 21st February (today) titled ‘Hard  questions about soft questions’. It is about the 2G scam and the ignominious role played by the Government. It ridicules the stand of the Prime Minister.  A very good article worth reading.

It has been decided to hold the next Central Executive Committee meeting of the BSNL Employees Union at Chennai from 22nd to 24th March 2011. The meeting is important since it is being held after the big victory in the recent Membership Verification, that too the fourth time victory in a row.

The CEC is being held on the 10th birth anniversary of the formation of BSNLEU. This will be an opportunity to review the growth of the organisation for the last ten years, to review the verification and also to plan our strategey and demands for the coming period.

The CBI is expanding its enquiry to many places. Yesterday CBI raided the office of the Kalaignar TV in Chennai, owned by the DMK in connection with the 2G scam. It is also reported in the papers that Ms. Kanimozhi, M.P., daughter of K.Karunanidhi  is going to be questioned by the CBI.

Shahid Balwa, owner of DB group, who is in Tihar Jail in connection with the 2G scam is further remanded till March  3rd.

CBI officials are also enquiring about the accounts of Sadiq Batcha, close aide of A.Raja, former communications minister, in Dubai connected with hawala transactions and also 2G scam..

Gradually the 2G scam may involve many big and mighty in the society.

After the press conference by the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, a question has arisen. Whose statement is correct, whether that of the Prime Minister or that of the Finance Minister regarding the suggestion made by the Finance Ministry on 2G allotment.

It was stated by the RBI Governor Subba Rao before the PAC (Public Accounts Committee )that the Finance Ministry has objected to the DOT regarding granting allotment of 2G spectrum with out auction. This was stated by the Finance Ministry also earlier. Now in the press conference held  on 16th February, the Prime Minister has stated that ‘ the finance ministry and DOT were on the same page on the spectrum pricing’. Both statements are contradictory. The question naturally arises, who is correct?

Any way, this issue will be raised by the opposition  in the PAC or the JAC.