P&T Department was once the most efficient and non-corrupt department of the Government of India. But now, it can not be said of BSNL which was bifurcated from P&T in to Telecom and then in to BSNL. It has become one of the most corrupt if you consider  the large number of  vigilance cases against its employees, mostly top-level officers. The latest is the reported case against  the Chief General Manager of Calcutta Telecom Factory.

The so-called reforms on the lines of neo-liberalisation policy, the fast growing telecom sector, the entry of the profit motivated private companies as also the formation of BSNL from government to public sector along are some of the reasons which have increased the corruptions in BSNL. Outsourcing and contracts are breeding grounds for corruption. This opportunity is maximum utilised to the tilt by the corrupt minded  persons, jeopardising the future of the company itself. In the present society, when even the most respected are involved in corruptible practices, the corruption has lost its stigma. Accumulation of money has become the aim of the life for some.

How it can be fought? We have seen and are seeing that how the fight against corruption is weakened by the Government itself, which is expected to lead the same.

The time has come for  the workers of BSNL  to strengthen the fight against corruption, whether it is bribe taking from contractors / outsourcing, in the tenders etc. At the same time the exploitation of the contract workers, which is also a method of corrupt practice has to be stopped. A determined and committed workforce can do a lot to make the corrupt practices to be reduced, even if not complete eradication. However our aim should be zero toleration of corruption.

CITU General Secretary and Rajya Sabha MP, Tapan Sen, today termed as a ‘drama’ the Central Vigilance Commission referring a complaint to CBI on alleged irregularities in use of coal blocks by some private firms.    “Will the CBI inquire on the misdeeds of Prime Minister’s Office or dare to question Prime Minister, on the issue,” Sen asked at a press conference here.     He said since the alleged irregularities in allocation of coal blocks were made, when the Coal Ministry was with the Prime Minister between 2004-2009, there should be a thorough probe in the entire issue, he said.     Sen, here to participate in the 4-day CITU National General Council meeting, beginning tomorrow, said Centre was deceiving the people by claiming that International crude prices played a major role in deciding the prices of petrol.     Sen, a member of the Standing Committee on Petroleum and Natural Gas, claimed it would cost only Rs.38 to Rs.40 for refining and supplying a litre petrol to the public, as against the present Rs.78 to Rs.80.    Government was earning 48 per cent tax on every one rupee of petrol sold and the claim of international fluctuation was a ‘fraud’ played on the gullible public, he alleged.   At the General Council meeting, Sen and CITU President, A K Padmanabhan said it would draw up a plan with regard to future of all the working class and also build up resistance, with other trade unions, against the UPA government whose policy was taking the country to ‘bankruptcy, disaster,’ leading to an economic situation like that of European Union.

A Special CBI Court here on Saturday sentenced the former BJP president, Bangaru Laxman, who has been convicted of corruption charges, to four-year rigorous imprisonment. It also imposed a fine of Rs.1 lakh on him.

All those corrupt should be punished like this.

The UPA government which is already merged in a lot of mega corruption charges like 2G, CWG, Adarsh, Antrix etc. has got another bolt from the blue. The ghost of the Bofors scam has  surfaced  again. The opposition has exposed the nefarious role of the government in the escape of the concerned culprits. The Parliament has been stalled more than once today. The coming days will see the battle between the govenment and the opposition.

The statement of General V.K.Singh, former army chief, that he was offered bribe of Rs. 14 crore for purchase of army trucks and that it was reported to the Defence Minister Shri A.K.Antony has startled the Parliament and the nation. There was sharp exchanges, the government was in the dock and  a CBI enquiry has been ordered.

But this is no news for those who are connected and in the knowledge of defence deals. India is one of the countries who are spending a major portion of its revenues for defence purchase. In the past also, there has been many scandals and charges of bribe, but nothing was proved and no action taken, since the persons behind the scams are MNCs with strong political clout in many countries and the top-level politicians, bureaucrats and military officers.

It is doubtful that whether any results will come out of the enquiry by CBI, which institution is completely under the control of the central government.