It is surprising that despite the protest from the main opposition BJP, Left, and even the alliance parties in the UPA like Trinamul and DMK , the government is adamantly sticking to the FDI in retail trade?

It seems that UPA is more committeed to US opinion than the opinion of the Indian people. US Ambassador to India as well as other foreign department dignitaries of US have been continuously pressurising and openly expressing their suggestion that India should open up the retail trade, so that US companies can get the benefit out of it. It is also true that the US companies are not getting much benefit from their own country due to the recession. and hence this continued demand.

But the general opinion in India is different . India has to give importance and priority to the interests of India and not US. But the adamant stand of the PM in this matter is really disturbing.

On this issue Parliament has been stalled today also. Why the Government is not prepared the accept the demand of the  opposition to revoke the same, when it is already clear that the majority of the Parliament is opposing FDI?

The Government should immediately revoke the FDI in retail trade.

The Parliament has been stalled for today also due to the strong opposition from the opposition parties including the Left against the cabinet decision on 51% FDI in multi-brand and 100 % in single brand retail trade.

The cabinet decision is completely against the interest of the country and especially the retail traders and the farmers. The government is surrendering to the dictates of the US capitalists and the MNCs against the interests of the Indian people.

The present move of the government has to be defeated if the country has to advance. That is why BSNLEU has called for protest demonstrations on 1 December 2011  in support of the Bharat Bandh by traders .

As already stated  yesterday, the hunger strike continued today with massive participation. The BSNL workers have shown their strong protest against VRS and anti-worker decisions of the BSNL management. If the issues are not settled urgently more powerful actions, including strike will be organised by the UF

The Central Government has again did it. By announcing 100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in single brand retail and 51% FDI in multi-brand retail trade, the government has attacked the livelihood of lakhs of retail traders and their families. The attack is on the common people of this country since the FDI in retail will ultimately increase the prices, after finishing of the small retail business in India.

The government’s arguments that there will be an increase in employment, the prices will come down etc. are simply nonsense. The experiences in many countries have shown that the markets will be completely captured by the MNCs  and the entire local traders will be ousted, who can not compete with the MNCs and big business.

Not only the entire opposition, but even allies of UPA like Trinamool, DMK etc. have opposed the cabinet decision on FDI in retail. Congress Party in Kerala has written to Prime Minister opposing the move. Congress is almost isolated on the issue. The Parliament was stalled on 29th November on this issue due to the adamant attidtude of  the UPA government.

The Organisations of the traders all over India has called for a Bandh on December 1st opposing the government decision on FDI. The working class is in support of the stand of the traders. BSNLEU has accordingly called upon its units and members to organise protest demonstration on 1st December  against the cabinet decision on FDI in retail. Make the programme successful with massive participation. The government should be compelled to withdraw the decision.

Minister Kapil Sibal has stated that the 3G roaming by those private companies which have not received 3G licence in those circle is illegal. But he did not mention about what is the action going to be taken against these companies.

Instead he has only stated that all stake holders including the private companies will be invited for talks to find out a solution. This seems to be a plan to allow the private companies national roaming with some penalty.

Instead, the government should take strict action against these violations and cancel their licenses as per provisions.

‘TELE PENSIONER’, the quarterly Journal  of the All India BSNL-DOT Pensioners Association (AIBDPA), has received the registration Certificate from the Registrar of Newspapers of India. The Regn. No is RNI No. DELBIL/2011/3966 dated 17th November 2011.

The Journal will now be published regularly. Postal registration will have to be obtained for getting postal concession.

Ms. Kanimozhi, Member of Parliament and daughter of DMK Supremo, Karunanidhi, who was in jail connection with the 2G scam  got bail today (28-11-2011). She was in jail for the last few months. Earlier, the top of executives of certain private telecom companies and jailed in this connection were given bail after the charge sheet was framed.

It is reported that former Minister A.Raja has not applied for bail so far.

The Two Days relay fast called for by the United Forum of BSNL Unions for 28th and 29th November has been made a complete success through the maximum participation of workers. Report all over India indicates that large number of workers have participated in each SSA and Circle.  The details will be published in the BSNLEU website.

In Delhi, the fast was organised in front of the BSNL Corporate Office. All India leaders of the unions affiliated to the United Forum and circle leaders of NTR Circle and Corporate Office participated. Circle Secretaries NTR and Corporate Office made all arrangements. Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, Convener, United Forum  inaugurated the fast. Coms. P.Abhimanyu, GS, BSNLEU, Suresh Kumar, GS, BSNLMS, R.K.Kohli, GS, NFTBE, P.Asoka Babu, Dy.GS BSNLEU, G.B.Salakki, AGS, BSNLEU, R.S.Chauhan, Org. Secretary, BSNLEU and other leaders were present and led the fast.

The relay fast will continue on 29th November.

It is reported that Supreme Court in BSNL vs Man Singh case  has ruled that the daily wagers ( casual / contract labours ) even if working for many years are not entitled to be regularised. The decision of the labour court and the High Court to the contrary has been cancelled by the Supreme Court.

We are trying to get a copy of the judgement to find out the exact judgement.