Privatization Of BSNL, MTNL Begins? BSNL Employees Oppose Govt’s Plan To Sell Towers, Monetize Optical Fibre

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) employees union reportedly opposed the government’s plan to monetise 2.86 lakh kms of optical fibre laid under the BharatNet project as well as 14,917 mobile towers owned by it and sister concern MTNL, on Thursday.

Why Would This Happen? 

According to them, the sale of mobile towers to corporates is the beginning of privatisation of BSNL and MTNL.

(BSNL) employees union alleged that If monetisation of these assets is allowed, then the government’s next target will be to monetise 7 lakh route kilometre length of optic fibre. 

BSNL EU Not Happy With Government’s Decision

State-run telecom firm EU said, “In the name of National Monetisation Pipeline (NMP), the government has decided to hand over the national assets at throw away price to the corporates”.

Further adding, “The argument of the government that the ownership of these assets will continue to remain with the government itself, is nothing but a sugar-coated poison,” .

As part of the Rs 6 lakh crore NMP, the government has announced its plans to garner Rs 35,100 crore from the partial monetisation of BharatNet fibre assets and 14,917 mobile towers owned by state-run telecom firms BSNL and MTNL.

BSNL Employees May Go On A Nationwide Protest

BSNL EU said, “The handing over of the mobile towers to the corporates will deliver a body blow to BSNL and MTNL. Now, it has become clear, why the Modi government has been creating road-blocks for the past one year and eight months, in the launching of 4G service by BSNL”.

“It is only because the government had already made up it’s mind to sell out BSNL’s mobile towers. If this is allowed, then the next target of the government will be, BSNL’s 7 lakh route kilometre length of Optic Fibre,” BSNL EU added.

BSNL EU strongly opposes the handing over of the nation’s wealth to corporations in the name of the National Monetisation Pipeline, and demands to stop it.

In response, EU called upon all BSNL employees to organise lunch hour demonstrations throughout the country on Friday.