It is now clear that Hosni Mubarak will have to vacate the President’s seat. The continuous struggle of the people for an end to the autocratic, US supported rule of  Mubarak is very near. The army has announced that the demands of the people will be met meaning that a new government will come. But how is it is not known. It is reported that Mubarak has left Cairo.

Our congratulations to the people of Egypt for the grand victory!

One more skeleton in the cup board of the Government has come to light. As per the report published in The Economic Times of 10th February (Page 12), it is reported that the spacious Centaur Hotel in Srinagar, owned by the Air India has been leased for long 30 years to DB Realty owned by Shahid Balwa, an accused in the 2 G Scam, for a pittance of Rs. one crore per year. The grand hotel has 251 spacious rooms and has a perfect scenery of Dal lake, which can be seen from each of the rooms. When the deal has been exposed Air India states that it was decided by the Aviation Ministry, when Praful Patel was the Minister. The former Minister has stated that it was the decision of the Air India. present aviation Minister Vayalar Ravi is reported to have stated that ” some problems ” are there.

More news of the lease contract are expected to come. All will be remembering how the Mumbai Centaur Hotel was gifted to a private company for 1/10th of the price.

Read the full column Editorial in Hindu dated 10th February 2010 titled ” Behind the S-Band Spectrum Scandal ” for the full details of the newly exposed scam. As per the reported comments of the CAG, it may be about Rs. 2 lakh crore, bigger than the 2-G scam.

It was a show of strength and unity of the non-NDA and Non-UPA parties at New Delhi yesterday against the spiraling price rise and demanding the government to take immediate action to arrest the same. Workers belonging to CPI(M), CPI, RSP, AIFB  TDP, AIADMK, JD(S), and RLD  joined together and marched on the Parliament Street. After the police stopped them, a massive rally was held which was addressed by Coms. Prakash Karat, A.B.Bardhan, N.Chandrabhanu Naidu, H.D.Deve Gowda, Ajit Singh , Thambi Durai and other leaders.

The struggle against price rise will continue, the leaders stated. They severely criticised the Central Government for its inability to control the prices which results more and more misery on the people.

BSNL is being squeezed by the government again and again. It has collected about Rs. 40,000 crore through dividend, licence fee, taxes etc. during the last 10 years. It has further collected Rs. 18,500 crore towards 3G and BWA Spectrum charges without giving a chance to participate in the auction process. The Government further collected another Rs. 7,500 crore in the name of a non-existing loan and 14% interest on it. Now it is again going to collect about Rs. 6,000 crore on the plea that extra spectrum has been allotted to BSNL earlier. While the approximate estimated charges for the same are Rs. 4,000 crore and Rs. 1,700 crore for Bharti Airtel and Vodafone respectively, much more is proposed to be collected from BSNL.  It will one of the last nail on the coffin of the BSNL, which is even now starved of funds.

Instead of  fleecing the BSNLEU,  its own company, the Government should support it with liberal grant or aid at this crucial moment. Strong pressure should come from the management, the workers and the people.

Communications Minister has ordered an inquiry against BSNL management regarding the allotment of valuable BWA spectrum to franchisees for a song and that too, violating eligibility criteria etc. BSNL had paid Rs. 8000 crore to Government for BWA Spectrum and it has granted licences to four franchisees only for Rs.1000 crore!

The full details of this deal will be out  in a few days. It is a shame and crime that such scams are being done in BSNL, which is fighting for its survival.

Immediate enquiry and action against the culprits should be taken.

Air India is in real trouble.Its employees have not so far been paid the salary for the month of January 2011. This has become a regular affair due to paucity of funds. Now the company is trying for a loan of Rs. 600 crore to pay its employees.

Air India was a profitable PSU. It was only because of the pro-private decisions of the government and the incapable management that the preent situation has come. The anti-policy of the government is not only against Air-India but against all PSUs. It is the same with the BSNL also.

Our main task is to defeat this neo-liberal policy of the government and ensure that BSNL survives and get strengthened.

The Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) took decision to pay 9.5% interest for the EPF contribution for this year after all financial calculation. But the private companies opposed stating that they can not pay 9.5% interest. Consequently, the finance ministry also started objecting to 9.5% and questioning the EPFO decision. EPFO has  reiterated their stand that sufficient balance is there to pay the 9.5% interest.

In fact, the finance ministry is advocating for the employer and wants to deny the rightful claim of the worker.

THE EPFO should implement its decision early. The workers can not be deprived of their rightful claim.

The recognition orders have been delayed in issue. It was ready by the evening of 8th February 2011, but the CMD BSNL has already left on tour to attend a Parliamentary Committee at Tawang; hence approval could not be obtained. On his return on 11th February it will be approved and orders issued.

It was assured by the CMD BSNL and GM(SR) yesterday (07-02-2010) that there is no problem in issuing the recognition order for BSNLEU and it will be issued by today. But till evening the order has not been issued. On enquiry it is reported that the CMD has not returned the returned file to SR so far. However, it is assured by the management that the recognition order will be issued tomorrow for sure.

It is more than 4 days after the results were declared. There should not be so much delay causing anxiety on the one side and giving chance for unnecessary rumours.