With the last post in the blog, I have completed 1000 posts in the blog so far. I am happy that it could be done within the last one year or so.
I have been giving some important news, my opinion and more or less putting the information to the visitor. I have got encouragement in this regard from many comrades and well wishers. Some have intimated their comments on the posts published. While most appreciated, there were one or two which were critical. I am publishing all those and reply also posted while in some cases which is full of uncivilized comments to which I have not responded.
Thanks to all friends, comrades and welwishers

It is just like a strong wind on its way forward spreading over new territories. From the cities of US it has spread to European countries, where there is already discontentment and dissatisfaction against the anti-people policies of the governments.
On Saturday, 15th October, about 1000 cities /towns in more than 80 countries joined the demonstrations against the rich and the corporate who grab all the wealth putting the ordinary people and the workers in the lurch.
‘Occupy Wall Street’ had its echo all over the world. In a well planned manner, as per media reports, 951 cities were witness to the demonstrations against the corporates and the bankers who controls the finance and take away all the profits. In Italy more than one lakh people participated in the demonstrations. In some places the windows of the banks were smashed. It spread to Hong Kong , Tokyo and Sydney.
The protesters shouted slogans like “ Only resolution – Revolution”, “ We are not assets in the hands of Bankers” We will not pay for the crisis” etc. The activists include unemployed youth, workers, teachers, nurses and social activists.

The ‘Occupy Wall Street’ movement is almost completing one month. It started on 17th September with a few hundred protestors squatting in streets around the Wall Street, the centre of trading in New York. It caught the attention of the whole world immediately, especially as it is happening in US, the flag bearer of capitalism.
It is reported that the movement is not a spontaneous one. The increasing unemployment, job loss, the inequality in income with the corporates grabbing all the profits and benefits leaving the vast majority in distress, the unjustified attacks on other countries spending huge sums of money – all these have been agitating the minds of the youth and the jobless. The preparations started months back with a call to all the citizens to agitate and become part of the coming movement.
It is stated that 1% of the people, the rich, hold 99% of the money and the 99% , the common people, hold only 1%. Even though it is difficult to believe, that is the fact as per the protesters. The appeal by the protesters invites all to participate in the movement: “ The current depression level is not due to lack of revenue. It is due to theft. The trillions that the banks are sitting on right now? That is our money. Whether through taxes; the looting of pension and social security contributions; or the wealth we created from our labour – all of that belongs to us. Come to Wall Street…”
The protesters are supported by the people. The trade unions are supporting them and giving all help including food and clothes as also money. Every day the numbers are increasing. Even the New York city police who are trying to stop them to Wall Street seems to be in support with the agitators. The protestors belong to several groups but with regard to the opposition to the government’s policies and actions, they are united. It was seen in the photos that certain protesters were having the picture of Che Guvere, the revolutionary, in their hand.
Within one month the number of protesters have increased in the Wall Street, New York. More than that the protest has extended to most of the cities and towns in USA. The Obama Government seems to be in real trouble if the ‘Occupy Wall Street’ further intensifies.
Let me quote another portion of the pamphlet issued by the protesters which reveals the serious thinking on their part: “ The world does not have to be this way. A society of ruthlessness and isolation can be confronted and replaced with a society of co-operation and community. Cynics will tell us that this world is not possible. That the forces arrayed against us have won and will always win, and, perhaps, should always win. But they are not gods. They are human beings, just like us. They are a product of a society that rewards the behaviour that has led us to where we are today. They can be confronted. What is more they can be reached. They just need to see us. See beyond the price tags we carry. And if they are gods? Then we shall be Prometheus. And we shall laugh as we are lashed to the stone to await the eagle.”
Only at his peril, President Obama can ignore this protest movement.

Lakhs of Workers will participate in the Parliament March against PFRDA Bill
According to the latest information, lakhs of workers may be participating in the Parliament March on 25th November 2011 against the PFRDA Bill, which is before the Parliament and may be taken in the Winter Session. The Parliamentary Standing Committee has already handed over its report to the Parliament.
The Steering Committee consisting of AIRF, Confederation of Central Government Employees, AIDEF, AISGEF, BSNLEU, NCCPA, AIBDPA etc. met today, 15th October at AIRF office, New Delhi. V.A.N.Namboodiri participated on behalf of BSNLEU and AIBDPA. After discussion it was decided to bring maximum number of workers and pensioners to the Parliament March on 25th November. Detailed arrangements will be made for the success of the programme.
Constituents were directed to speed up the signature campaign and bring maximum signed copies of the memorandum to New Delhi for being presented to the Speaker/Prime Minister on the day of Parliament March. Members of Parliament are to be met and issues explained to them. Detailed circular will be issued by the Steering Committee on all these issues.
The fight against PFRDA Bill is a fight for pension and social security of the workers who have sacrificed their entire life in the service of the country. We have to win in this battle to safeguard and protect the interests of the Central, State and Public Sector employees and pensioners.

The 2G Spectrum scam has been the cause for unearthing another scam, the sale of VSNL. However it did not catch much attention, since the sale was done nine years back. But now the issues have come in to focus, through the surplus land disposal.
The Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited, the corporatised government services called Overseas Communications, which was part of the Department of Telecom, was handed over to Tata in 2002 for a paltry sum of Rs.143 crore. At the lowest, including the infrastructure, building, cables etc. it must have a value of Rs. 20,000 crore at least. I was, in fact, a gift to Tata. Later they changed the name of th company as Tata Telecommunications.
The vacant land belonging to VSNL at Delhi, Mumbai(Maharashtra) and Chennai (T.Nadu), coming to 740 plus acre, although not handed over to Tata was actually in control of the latter. The understnding seemed to be that after years, it will eventually come in to the hands of Tatas as a matter of course.
The 2G spectrum scam and the various enquiries connected with the same during the period from 1999 onwards brought this conspiracy in to lime-light.
The NDA as well UPA government were sleeping over the issue. The jolt on the 2G scam made the government to immediately act before the skeletons in the cup-board are exposed.
The government has now made a draft note assessing the value of the 740 and odd acre land to Rs. 6156 crore @ Rs. 8.31 crore an acre. Anybody who knows about the land value in metros like Delhi and Mumbai will tell you that the present assessed value is far below the market rate. However, any sale of this land is certain to bring more skeletons from the cupboard.
Neo-liberalisation and especially privatisation processes are full of such loop holes and corruption. The 20 years of neo-liberalisation process in India, is the blackest period of corruption.

The Prime minister Dr. Manmohan Singh while addressing the Annual Convention of the Central Information Commission in Delhi on 14th October has stated that the transparency of law should not adversely affect deliberate processes in the Government and discourage honest and well meaning public servants from voicing their views. Accordingly he wanted some exemption clauses in the RTI Act.

This is not a surprising news, since the UPA government was facing a lot of corruption cases the basis for which were obtained by activists under the RTI Act. The government wants that such information exposing the government and focussing wrong doings should be kept secret from the people. This thinking is completely wrong and unwarranted. The people have got the right to know how the government functions, what process is going on and the decisions taken. This suggestion of the PM has to be stoutly opposed by all democratic thinking people. Instead of opposing and exposing the wrong things done by government, it wants to keep them as a secret. This is to be condemned by all the right thinking people.
It is not RTI Act that is to be amended, but the anti-democratic and anti-people policies of the government.

The militant organisation of the BSNL-DOT Pensioners, The All India BSNL-DOT Pensioners Association, will be celebrating its 2nd Birth Anniversary on 21st October 2011. This is a democratically formed organisation, functioning democratically embracing those retired from DOT as well as BSNL.
There was a dialogue going on whether to form a separate organisation for the BSNL and DOT Pensioners other than the Central Government Pensioners Association. After the issue was discussed in detail at All India and also at Circle levels, it became evident that a separate organisation for the DOT and BSNL Pensioners is necessary to sort out their separate issues. It was also felt that the orgnaisation should include both the DOT and BSNL Pensioners since they belong to the same family, whether DOT or BSNL. Their future are mixed together and it will have common cause.
Hence as per the overwhelming opinion of the DOT and BSNL Pensioners and at the initiative of BSNL Employees Union an All India Convention was held at New Delhi on 21st October 2009 which unanimously decided to form The AIBDPA. Com.M.K.Pandhe, then President, CITU and the tallest leader of the Indian working class, inaugurated the Convention, preparing for the formation of the Association.
Within the short two years of its existence AIBDPA has grown with Circle Unions in most of the circles and a large number of membership. Every month, most of the BSNL employees retiring are joining AIBDPA.
AIBDPA stands with the BSNL workers on common issues. AIBDPA participatd in the struggles of the BSNL workers and as senior comrades shared their experiences with those working comrades.
AIBDPA thanks BSNLEU and also JAC for taking up the pensioners issues and going on struggle on issues like pension revision of pre-2007 BSNL retires, Anomaly in Pension etc. The settlement of pension revision of pre-2007 BSNL retirees is a major achievement of the AIBDPA, BSNLEU and JAC.
AIBDPA stands with the programme of the Central Trade Unions on the issues of the toiling masses of the country.
October 21, 2011 is the second anniversary of the birth of this vibrant organisation and the CHQ has issued directions to observe the day by holding general body meetings/ rallies etc. and explaining the need of the hour. It is also suggested that maximum number of subscribers to “Telepensioner” be enrolled by meeting those who have not subscribed so far. Reports of the same to be sent to the General Secretary AIBDPA for information and necessary action.

In an interview given by Shri R.K.Upadhyay, CMD BSNL to Business Line, he has stated that BSNL will make a turn around by two years. Certain urgent measures are being taken to restore the earlier position, he had stated.
To a question he replied as follows:” BSNL is the market leader in landline and broadband business segements with 71.93 % and 63.49% market shares respectively. BSNL also has prominent shares in mobile and leased circuit segments. BSNL earned cellular business as a late entrant in October 2002 when private operators had already spread their arms for over 6 years. Our net work expansion stumbled during the last few years for reasons beyond our control. However, we have initiated the process to increase our mobile capacity and hope to revive the growth process.”
But nowhere in the interview he has stated about the workers initiative for providing a better service through “Customer Delight Year 2011-12” etc.
(For full interview see Business Line – 15th October)

The recommendations of the TRAI to increase the 8 digits of the land lines to 10 digits may not be accepted by the Government. The DOT committee which deliberated on the issue has suggested to continue with the present 8 digit system. The change to 10 digit system will cause many hurdles which can be avoided by continuing the existing system. Further the land lines are not increasing making it necessary to increase the digits.
The DoT panel has also suggested that only numbers starting from 2 and 3 is to be allotted to the land lines of all telecom operators including the private and numbers starting from 3,5,6 which are now used by the private companies can be shifted for mobile connections.
No final decision has been taken by the government so far.

The news coming in connection with the workers strike in Maruti Manesar Plant is disturbing. It is the right of the workers to form their union, nobody can question it. It is the fundamental right of the workers and accepted all over the world. But this right is denied to its workers by the Maruti Management. Almost the entire workers in the Manesar plant are on agitation to get this right accepted by the management.
Who is to intervene and ensure the right of the workers? It is the Haryana government in this case. The Labour department should intervene and sort out the issue. Instead, it is completely siding with the management. In the earlier strike also the government has taken the pro-management stand. Now the workers have been vacated from inside the factory to outside the factory stating that they can not sit within 100 metres of the plant.
The entrie workers in the Maruti companies, in addition to the Manesar Plant are on agitation on this issue. The anti-worker actions of the Maruti Management is well known, liking cutting salary for even two minutes delay, restricting even time to go to toilet, snacks etc. as also cutting salary on flimsy grounds.
The Haryana Government had stated that the concilliations will start soon. But the government should stop its pro-management stand and be a true negotiator ensuring the rights of the workers.