CBI has started catching the private telcos who has benefitted out of turn in the 2G allocation in 2008. Yesterday CBI called senior officers of S-Tel, Unitech, Loop Telecom, Swan Telecom, Reliance Communications and other companies and questioned them.

According to CBI, the complaints against these companies are violation of first-come-first served policy, tampering of cut off date and failure to meet the eligibility criteria.

DB Reality promoter Shahid Balwa was also questioned in connection with the scam.

Enquiries are going on. What will happen? Whether this enquiry also will be a cover up?Let us see.

Former communications Minister Arun Shourie has been summoned by the CBI to appear before it in connection with the 2G Scam. Arun Shourie was the Communications Minister in the Bajpai’s NDA government during the period January 2003 to May 2004. He has been summoned by the CBI in the 2G scam with regard to the allocation of spectrum and policy decisions at that time.

It seems that since the government started the neo-liberal policy and entry of private operators in telecom, every thing has been going in a wrong way to support and for the benefit of the private companies mingled with high corruption.

There is no justification for the Finance Department to oppose and delay the increased interest rate of 9.5% from 8.5% decided by the Employees Provident Fund Organisation. Unnecessary objections are being raised by Finance. The real issue is that the big business has stated that they can not pay the increased rate and the government support them. The employees right for increased right can not be taken away by the finance ministry. The Central Board of Trustees of EPFO has replied to all queries raised by the finance and clearly told that there is full justification for the increase. The increase in the interest rate has been a long pending demand of the trade unions.

The Finance should immediately approve the decision of the EPFO and pay the higher rate of interest, instead of dilly dallying in the matter. It is already 6 months since the decision has been taken by the EPFO on 15th September 2010.

BSNL Employees Union is going to complete 10years of glorious service  by March 2011. It was formed on 22nd March 2001 in the historic Telecom Convention held at Visakhapatnam by merging all the existing progressive unions. During the last ten years it has grown to be the biggest union in BSNL and has been the recognised and representaive unin since 2005. In the recent V Membership Verification also, it has won with huge majority.

BSNL Employees Union has decided to celebrate the event. A Central Executive Committee meeting will be held during the time, the place for which will be decided shortly.

Let all of us make the 10 years celebration a great success.

Disinvestment Department is never idle. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the follow on Public Offer (FPO) of PFC (Power Finance Corporation. The issue will raise 15% fresh equity as also 5 % disinvestment. The PSU at present have 78% equity at present and will have 85% after disinvestment. The PSU hopes to get Rs. 5372 crore through the present exercise. Employees will be offered share on 5% discount.

HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the defence PSU also is looking for disinvestment. At present 100% shares are held by the government.

It is certain that the workers in these PSUs will oppose these disinvestments.

Mobile phones in India is increasing about more than one crore every month. In December 2010 it has reached to 75.2 crore. But the interesting fact is that only 70.3% of these phones are active.  One of the reason may be that the same person is having more than one mobile.

The Disinvestment Department is not idle. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the follow on public offer (FPO) of Power Finance Corporation (PFC). The issue will raise 15% fresh equity besides five per cent disinvestment of government holding in the company.

The government currently holds 89.78 stake in the PSU. After the follow on issue, the Government will have only 85%. On the current valuation the issue will raise Rs.5,372 crore. Certain % of shares are reserved for the employees.

HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited ) is also thinking of for IPO (Initial Public Offer ) subject to the approval of the Government. At present HAL is a completely government owned defence PSU.

As per reports in Times of India based on the CBI and Enforcement Directorate investigations, A.Raja, former Communications Minister could have got bribes to the tune of Rs. 3,000 crore and have put the los to the exchequer due to selling of spectrum at undervalued rates at Rs. 40,000 to 50,000 crore.

CBI will charge sheet  Minister A.Raja, his Private Secretary, R.K.Chandolia, former DOT Secretary Sidharth Behuria and businessman Shahid Balwa by March 31st as stated in the Supreme Court.

Guilty should be punished for their crimes.

Nepal is having a new Prime Minister, Jhalanath Khanal, the leader of the Communist Party of Nepal (UML). After an understanding between the Maoists – Left Alliance, Khanal has been elected to the top post.  But it seems that every thing is not OK. It is a churning that is taking place. It is hoped by all progressive sections that the democratic forces in Nepal should be able to join together for the progress of the nation.

Dr. Jayati Ghosh, noted economist and Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University has been awarded the International Labour Organisation’s Decent Work Reasearch Prize along with Professor Eve Landau. She has been conferred  the honour for her major contributions to the analysis of socio-economic relationships and policy instruments for the advancement of decent work.  Dr. Ghosh is a regular writer in Peoples Democracy and other progressive journals. 

My hearty Congratulations and Best Wishes to Dr. Jayati Ghosh!