On the basis of the Niti Ayog recommendations, the Department of Investment and Public Assess Management (DIPAM – the new name for the former Department of Disinvestment) is moving for the strategic sale of 27 central PSUs. The names come out include Container Corporation of India, Bharat Earthmovers Ltd, Certification Engineers International Ltd., Hindustan Newspapers Ltd., Scooters India Ltd., Air India etc. BSNL and MTNL were reported to be in the list, but immediately Niti Ayog issued a denial. It is clear that the denial was only to hoodwink the workers in these two PSUs and take them by surprise later to avoid agitation.

The Central Trade Unions have to focus these issues in a massive and prepare the workers for a serious fight. The Forum of BSNL Unions and Associations as also the Forum of BSNL/MTNL Unions / Associations should start preparations for a serious sustained struggle to defeat the ill-conceived moves of the NDA government.

Bajpai Government sold VSNL to Tata. Are the BSNL and MTNL unions and workers going to allow strategic sale of BSNL and MTNL being planned by the Modi Government?

The answer is a big NO.  BSNL Workers defeated the decisions of the government to disinvest and impose VRS/CRS. They will defeat the move for strategic sale also.