Babri Masjid Demolished – 06-12-1992

6^th December 1992 was a sad day for the country. The reactionary forces which roused serious communal tension were able to demolish the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya (Faizabad) on that day. The state government and the Central Government both utterly failed to tackle the situation, although it was well known earlier that the RSS Parivar was preparing for the same for months. The whole nation condemned the incident. It was a serious attack on the secular fabric of the nation. The demolition of Babri Masjid had serious repercussions.

Peace Movement and Demonstration on 13^th December 1992

The demolition of Babri Masjit  resulted in much tension and communal disharmony in the country. Many untoward incidents happened. It was the duty of the working class to bring back normalcy and communal harmony. The Sponsoring Committee of Trade Unions called for a Peace Rally in Delhi on 13^th December 1992. Although the government did not give permission for the rally, a meeting attended more than 3,000 workers were held at Mandi House, in which CG employees including telecom employees participated.

The police arrested the leaders, but were released after intervention of CITU President, E.Balanandan, M.P.

1993

Campaign for National Unity – 30^th January 1993

The Sponsoring Committee of Central Trade Unions as part of its progressive movement called upon the workers to organize 30^th January 1993, the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, as Campaign for National Unity and to take pledge to preserve and strengthen India’s unity and communal harmony. This was implemented by BSNLEU also.

Help to Cuba – ‘Cuban Princess’

In order to help the Cuban people, who were reeling under the economic blockade of the US and other imperialist countries, Indian people decided to send a ship full of food grains   to this socialist country. The ship “Cuban Princess”, sailed from Calcutta with 10150 tons of food grains, which was received by Fidel Castro, President of Cuba, who stated that this donation will strengthen the relations between the two countries. BSNLEU comrades from many places also helped the food grain collection.

Com.A.S.Rajan, former SG NFPTE expired

Com. A.S.Rajan, former Secretary General of NFPTE as also former General Secretary of P.III Union, passed away on 10-01-1993. He was one of the veteran comrades, who along with Com. KG Bose contested against the revisionist leadership in the Federal Council 1990 and won with good majority.

Amendment to Indian Telegraph Act proposed

The central government in its move in implementing the neo-liberal policy of liberalization, globalization and privatization started targeting the telecom sector for its implementation. A committee with D.N.Nanda, Member (Telecom). DOT as Chairman was constituted to recommend amendments to the Indian Telegraph Act 1886, in order to change the act to bring in private companies. The committee submitted its report on 9^th September 1992, recommending formation of a Telecom Regulator, with the aim of privatization. (To be continued)