Leaders of BSNLEU and BSNLCCWF, Comrades V.A.N.Namboodiri, P.Asokababu, Animesh Mitra and Tapas Ghosh met Sri A.K.Garg Directir(HR), BSNL on 25th August and discussed with the main issues of the casual and contract workers. They demanded that the 4000 and odd casual labours who are left out and eligible be regularised without further delay. In the case of 2270 casual labour in W.Bengal it was pointed out that not even a single casual labour was regularised after the BSNL was formed. Despite the Supreme Court order on the basis of which the management is trying to deny regularisation, departments of the Government of India as also many PSUs have regularised their workers. Union representatives pointed out that there is no justification to deny regularisation.
Other issues like IDA wages, Minimum wages, social security measures were also discussed. The union strongly protested against retrenchment and victimisation and demanded the Director (HRD) to ensure that those retrenched are taken back.

Hundreds of comrades of casual and contract workers have already reached Delhi to participate in the massive Dharna to be held tomorrow on the demands of the Casual and Contract workers.
The dharna will start at 1000 hours at the Eastern Court premises. Coms Basudeb Acharya, Tapan Sen and P.R.Natarajan all of them Members of Parliament will address the dharna.

Central Secretariat of BSNLEU has given call to all its units to organise massive demonstrations protesting against the delay in bringing an effective and strong Lokpal Bill, unearth black money and take stringent action against the corrupt. It also condemned the undemocratic action of the government in arresting Anna Hazare who is on fast.
The call of BSNLEU and a note on the issue is put on the website of BSNLEU http://www.bsnleuchq.com

The UPA II Government is digging its own grave by shirking away from drafting a strong and effective Lok Pal Bill. It seems that it has got a lot of skeletons in the cup board to hide other than what have already been exposed like 2G, KG Basin, CWG, Adarsh, Antrix-Dewas etc. etc. Otherwise why it should drag its feet in bringing an effective bill which will free the society at least to a certain extent from the all pervading corruption. The people have lost faith in the government with regard to eradication of corruption.
The present situation in view of Anna Hazare’s fast is an opportunity for the government to act to bring a strong Lok Pal Bill. The government should act before it is too late.
I along with lakhs of other people condemn the anti-democratic actions of the government not to curb corruption but to act against those who are pointing out corruption.

It is reported in Business Line today, 24th August 2011, that the Planning Commission has advocated dilution of government equity in PSU Banks to below 51%. This in fact means that the PSU Banks are going to be privatised. Already, the government is considering for allowing private business houses to start banks. In addition, the government wants to privatise the Public Sector Banks also.
The UPA II government is going fast with its disinvestment /privatisation plans. Unless strong struggles are organised and the common people mobilised against these so called reforms, no PSU will exist in future.

It was on this fateful day, 24th August 1991, that Mikhail Gorbachev resigned from the post of General Secretary of Communist Party of Soviet Union (CPSU) and dissolved the same. The USSR also collapsed with the various units of the Soviet Union disaffiliating from USSR.
The Soviet Union formed with the 1917 socialist revolution under the leadership of Comrade V.I.Lenin grew in to a mighty force within a short time despite attack from all sides. The defeat of Hitler in the II World War and the conquering of Berlin by the Red Army saved the world from a fascist dictator ship. In all spheres USSR advanced with even surpassing USA in space journey. It had a mighty defence force also.
But the revisionist leadership of Gorbachev and certain drawbacks resulted in the collapse of the USSR. Eventhough CPSU was dissolved by Gorbachev, it still exists with a good following. India’s relation with USSR was always good and the former helped India in getting industrialised.
The co-operation between Russia, China and India should function against the hegemony of the USA led imperialism.

Members of Parliament belonging to Left and non-BJP non-Congress parties organised demonstration before Parliament strongly protesting against the delay in passing a strong anti-corruption Lok Pal Bill. They also demanded that the government should immediately act to discuss with Anna and sort out the issue by adopting a strong Lokpal Bill.
Demonstrations were held through out the country as per the call of the Left and other non-Congress non-BJP parties.

The Circle Union of All India BSNL-DOT Pensioners Association (AIBDPA) was formed on 23rd August in a well attended Circle Convention of Pensioners held at the RTTC conference Hall at Pune. The Convention was presided over by Comrade Ganesh Nallawade, Circle President of BSNLEU and was addressed by Comrades Purushotham Gedam, Circle President, BSNLEU, Datta Saheb Gaikwad, President, SC/ST Sanghatan, Sonawane and other comrades. Comrade B.P.Petkar, AGS, AIBDPA and Convener Maharashtra Circle welcomed all.
Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri, President BSNLEU and Advisor AIBDPA inaugurated the convention. In his speech he spoke about the major demands of the BSNL-DOT pensioners. In settling the Pension Revision of pre-2007 BSNL retirees, BSNLEU and AIBDPA had achieved a great victory. Now the main task is get it implemented without further delay wherever it has not been implemented. He also explained the Charter of Demands adopted at the recent Central Executive Committee of AIBDPA held at Kolkata.
The Maharashtra Circle union was formed unanimously electing office-bearers with Comrade B.P.Petkar as Circle Secretary.

The Fast by Anna Hazare at Ram Lila Maidan continues for the 7th day. Thousands of followers are sitting in the maidan. Some followers have sat on Satyagraha in front of the official residences of Ministers Kapil Sibal and Sheila Dikshit, Chief Minister.
But no talks so far by the Government.

The Government has no money to increase the budget provision for primary education, subsidy to petroleum products like cooking gas resulting in rocketting prices of all essential commodities hitting the common people. But it seems, that there is sufficient money to gift to the corporates.
Rs. 5.1 lakh crore has indeed been granted as Tax Relief to the big 10 corporates in 2010 – 11. Total tax relief given to cororates from year 2006 is a whopping Rs.21.53 coroe.
Of course, corporates are more important to this government than the common people!