PROTEST: Chain hunger strike enters fifth day

Ludhiana, November 2, 2012: Intensifying the ongoing struggle on the demand of repatriation of ITS officers to Department of Telecommunications, forum of BSNL unions/associations organised a massive lunch hour demonstration infront of the Office of GMTD, Bharat Nagar Chowk, Ludhiana.

The chain hunger strike started from October 29 entered day fifth today. Leaders and activists of the Forum of BSNL Executives and Non-Executives Unions/Associations comprising of BSNL Employees Union, Sanchar Nigam Executive Association (India), National Federation of BSNL Telecom Employees and All India BSNL Executives Association sit on chain hunger strike.

Addressing the gathering Com. Balbir Singh, Circle Secretary, BSNLEU told that the ongoing struggle has entered into day fifth but the top management is adamant and have yet not started any conciliatory measures.

The All India leaders of the forum met Kapil Sibbal, Union Minister of Communication (MOC) on October 30 this year and apprised him of the ongoing struggle and explained the demands. It seems that the minister has not taken any serious note of the struggle.

He further told that the chain hunger strike will continue till tomorrow and further course of action will be decided by the All India leadership. He urged upon the leadership to start a serious struggle including indefinite strike if the matter is not solved.

Com. Gurpreet Singh Circle President SNEA (I) and Com. S. P. Singh Circle secretary NFTBE while addressing the gathering told that the ongoing struggle is being organised successfully all over India.

They told that entire non- executives of BSNL have taken absorption in BSNL since its inception in October 2000 and the entire Executives have also taken absorption in BSNL since last 9 years, but the 1200 ITS officers are not taking absorption in BSNL even after elapse of 12 years.

They demanded the Government and top management of BSNL immediate absorption of ITS officers in BSNL or their repatriation to Department of telecommunications. They also demanded that either ITS officers should absorb in BSNL or 2.75 lakh executives and non-executives should be taken back to Department of Telecommunications.

Com. Raj Kumar, District Secretary, SNEA (India) and Com. Avtar Singh Jhande, District Secretary BSNLEU Ludhiana said that the I.T.S officers of BSNL are not taking seriously the development works as they are the DOT Employees and have no concern with the deteriorating services and losses to the BSNL.

The BSNL is incurring heavy losses since the last 3 financial years. In the current Financial Year, the loss of BSNL is around Rs. 9000 Crores. They further stated that the Financial position and services of BSNL cannot improved until the ITS officers are not absorbed in BSNL.

Today, Com. Raj Kumar, Harbhajan Dass, P.S Nanada, Gurdev Singh, Ramesh Kumar SNEA(I) ,Com. Jaswant Singh ,Rajinder Kumar Bachie Singh, Chander Kesav, Narinder Singh, Kulbhushan Kumar, Baldev Singh, Ram Dyal Seth, Avtar Singh Delhon, Satnam Singh, Darshan Singh BSNLEU and Com.Jaswant Singh sit on the day long hunger strike.

Among others, Com. Paramjit Singh, District President, BSNLEU, Com. Harbhajan Dass District President SNEA (I) also spoke on the occasion.