BSNL employee associations threaten stir for over refund of Rs18,500 crore 3G spectrum

Asserting that BSNL was forced to pay a huge amount of Rs18,500 crore for 3G and broadband spectrum, the employees associations of BSNL yesterday demanded a refund of the money from the government, failing which, they have threatened to strike work.

The Joint Action Committee (JAC) representing 3 lakh executives and non-executives of BSNL had called a convention today, demanding a refund of the spectrum money as also exemption of of the PSU from payment of licence fees on fixed lines, among other concessions.

They say BSNL was denied the option to bid and choose circles of its choice like other private players, rather it was allotted spectrum for all the circles barring Delhi and Mumbai (where PSU, MTNL got the radio waves) and told to match the winning bid.

The union is likely to call for a three-day sit-out strike starting 21 September to register employees' protest in case the government failed to resolve the issues. They will launch an indefinite strike in case the government failed to meet their demands in totality within a reasonable timeframe.

According to Sanchar Nigam Executive Association, BSNL had been arbitrarily forced to pay on 3G and BWA airwaves in total violation of the provisions of the National Telecom Policy, 1999.

It added that blatant discrimination had been meted out by insensitive and indifferent bureaucracy in DoT to BSNL depriving it of legitimate opportunity to bid for choice of circles of commercial potential, an act deserving the strongest condemnation.