It was most unusual. Almost all the heads /owners of the private companies which are fighting against each other on many contending issues met the Prime Minister yesterday (30th November ) together. Sunil  Mittal (Airtel), Anil Ambani (Reliance), VittorioColao (Vodafone), Kumaramangalam Birla (Idea), Ishhat Hussain (Tata)- all were there. They met the Communications Minister as well as the Finance Minister before meeting the Prime Minister.

The 2G scam, the roaming controversy, the economic slow down, the cut throat competition – all these have resulted in less profit and the private companies are worried about the future. Now they want some more concessions and help from the government. They want that the New Telecom Policy  2011 should in their favour, in fact more favour. These may be the issues discussed.

These talks  and the consequent developments will be against the interests of the PSUs, BSNL and MTNL. But whether they are meeting the PM and other ministers and seeking more help for the PSUs? Are they going to meet the Prime Minister ?

The unions have to move urgently to ensure that decisions are not taken against the BSNL & MTNL. All kinds of favours have been given to private companies and there is no necessity to further spend public funds for the private profit.

For me yesterday  was a very pleasant day.  I was at Agartala, the capital of Tripura to attend the marriage of Ms. Somali,  daughter of Com. Swapan Chakraborty,  the Asst. General Secretary of BSNLEU.

I reached Agartala by about 1000 hours by flight from Delhi. Comrade Abhimanyu, GS, was also to come with me, but due to some urgent matters at home he could not. I was received at the Airport by Com. P.C.Dey, senior leader of Agartala. I was accommodated in the same place where the marriage was to take place. Since it was by about 0700 PM, I had sufficient time at my disposal to read some journals which I had brought from home.

Tripura is the only state in the country at present which is ruled y the left, the CPI(M). There were three till last year, Kerala and W.Bengal included. But in the last assembly elections Left lost both. Now only Tripura is left under Left. Though a small state, one of the seven sisters of the North East States, Tripura is not embroiled in the turmoil that is there in the NE area. It is also the state that has moved forward under the Left government. The roads are better, governance is better as also the safety of the people. That is why in each and every Parliament and Assembly poll, the Left is getting more and more support.

BSNLEU is also very strong in the NE including Tripura. In all the membership verifications, NE I & II are getting majority above 90% of the total votes. There is no other organisations there worth mentioning.  The JAC is also functioning well.

The JAC at Agartala had arranged a meeting in connection with my visit. It was well attended with about 250 workers. I was the main speaker and I spoke for about 90 minutes explaining most of the important issues faced by the workers. I also called upon the workers the necessity of participating in the 15th December strike called by the JAC on BSNL and workers issues. The workers heard the speech with rapt attention.

Again to the marriage. The barat was scheduled at 0700 PM and the marriage at 0800 PM. Coms. Swapan Chakraborty and wife Ms. Indrani received me and were happy at my presence. with Many comrades from all parts of NE I & II came. Many comrades spoke about certain issues including the regularisation of casual workers. From W.Bengal Com. Pappan (Gautam Bose) son of Moni Bose had come with his wife and son.  It was a pleasure to meet them after so much time.

The marriage ceremony continued up to 2300 hours or so. Every thing was well-arranged. I met Miss Somali and gave my best wishes and blessings for a very happy marriage. I enjoyed the feast though I did not taste every dish, including non-vegetarian. Coms. Narayan Rai and Sikha at whose marriage hall, the function was arranged have done it very well. They also ensured that every thing including my stay was comfortable. I returned on the morning of 1st December after a very tasty breakfast.

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.