The CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act), NPR (National Population Register) and NRC (National Register of Citizenship) are against the secular character of the Indian Constitution.

• The spirit of the Indian Constitution is that the citizenship of any person should not be decided based on his / her religion. However, the CAA excludes the migrants of a particular religion, from getting Indian citizenship.

• The NRC (National Register of Citizenship) will be prepared based on the NPR (National Population Register). At the time of preparing NPR, each person should to tell the date and place where his / her parents were born. If these details are not provided, then, that person may be kept in the doubtful citizen’s list.

• Each person may have to give a big amount as bribe to the officials, to ensure that they get citizenship.

• When NRC is finalised in Assam, 19 lakh people lost their citizenship. A Kargil war hero, two MLAs are among those who did not get citizenship. How many crores of people will lose their citizenship, if the NRC is implemented in the whole of India?

• It is not only Muslims, but those who oppose and criticise the government may also not get citizenship.

• The CAA, NPR and NRC divide the people, especially the working masses, based on religion.    

23^rd March, 2020 is the martyrdom day of freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Raj Guru. The CEC meeting of BSNLEU, has called on the employees to observe an “Anti-CAA, NPR and NRC Day” on 23.03.2020. The CEC has called on the employees to wear demands badge with black ribbon on that day. Lunch hour gate meetings should be organised and the preamble of the Indian Constitution should be read out on that day. All circle and district secretaries are requested to organise this programme very successfully.

For the past so many years, the AUAB is spearheading struggles and movements to safeguard and strengthen BSNL. The AUAB has also played a crucial role in getting 4G spectrum to BSNL for free. In the present case also, wherein vested interests are hatching conspiracy to scuttle BSNL’s procurement of 4G equipments, the AUAB will make the needful intervention. The Convenor, AUAB, is already in contact with other constituents of the AUAB to finalise appropriate action.

It is known to everyone that Reliance Jio created a very big crisis, not only for BSNL, but for the entire telecom sector, by practicing predatory pricing. Many medium and small sized telecom companies are closed down, because of Jio’s predatory pricing. All the telecom companies, except Jio, have gone into loss. The total debt of the telecom sector is Rs.8 lakh crore. Now, Jio says that a minimum floor price should be fixed for data and voice calls. In reply to a consultation paper floated by the TRAI, the Jio has stated that among 230 countries of the world, data tariffs in India are 50 times lower than the tariffs of major developing / developed countries. The behaviour of Reliance Jio reminds us the proverb, “after eating 900 mice, cat goes on Haj pilgrimage”.

[Source: Financial Express dated 09.03.2020]

BSNLEU has already raised the demand with the BSNL Management that, the BSNL retirees should be allowed to retain their quarters upto 6 months from their date of retirement, at the normal rate of Licence Fee. BSNLEU has raised this demand, in view of the lock-down that has been imposed in the country, which has made it impossible for any one to get houses on rental basis.  Today, Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, discussed this issue with Shri A.M. Gupta, CGM(BW) and requested him to consider taking expeditious action to settle the demand. The CGM(BW) replied that, the demand is being looked into and that a decision would be taken soon.

CHQ is extremely shocked to know that, Com.Sarabjit Singh, district secretary, BSNLEU, Amritsar and also one of the senior leaders of our movement in Punjab circle, has passed away at 06:00 pm today. Com.Sarabjit, who was 58 years old, had been unwell for the past few days. He is survived by his wife, two daughters and a son. BSNLEU dips it's banner and pays respectful homage to Com.Sarabjit Singh and also conveys it's deep condolences to his family members, friends and comrades.

Replying to the unstarred question no.2950, Shri Sanjay Dhotre, Minister of State for Communications has informed the Lok Sabha on 11.03.2020 that pension revision of the employees absorbed in BSNL does not remain pending. He has further replied that the pension revision of absorbed BSNL employees is linked to the pay revision of the serving employees.

The US government has totally failed to contain the spread of Corona Virus. More than 11 lakh people are infected with Corona Virus Disease in the US and 65,000 people have already died. The US is the worst affected country by the Corona Virus Disease. Even many poor countries are managing this disease in a better way. Hence, to save his skin, the US President, Donald Trump, is trying to divert the attention of the US people, by telling that China is responsible for the Corona Virus crisis. The World Health Organisation Director General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, had already categorically stated that, the Corona Virus has originated from animals. However, even recently, Trump has told that, China’s Wuhan Institute of Virology is the origin of the Corona Virus. In reply to this, the Head of Emergencies at World Health Organsation (WHO), Dr. Michael Ryan, has categorically stated that, the Novel Corona Virus is “natural in origin.” Responding to Donald Trump yesterday, Dr. Michael Ryan stated that, the WHO team had listened “again and again” to many scientists, who had looked at the gene sequences of the virus, “and we are assured that this virus is natural in origin”.

[Source: PTI, Washington, updated at 10:14 IST on May 2, 2020, published by Indiatoday.in]

As per the call of the AUAB, black-flag demonstrations were organised throughout the country today, opposing the cancellation of BSNL’s 4G tender and demanding immediate rolling out of 4G service by BSNL. As per the reports received from circles, demonstrations are successfully organised, with large participation of employees, in most parts of the country. Lock-down, prohibition under section 144 and various other restrictions have been imposed all over the country, to stop the spread of the Corona Virus Disease. However, it is heartening to note that, despite all these restrictions, the BSNL Non-Executives and Executives have successfully organised black-flag demonstrations. Everywhere, social distancing has been maintained in the demonstrations and masks were also worn by the participants. In addition to the black-flag demonstration, the Non-Executives and Executives wore black-badges today, to express their resentment.

Com. P. Abhimanyu,  GS, telephonically talked to Shri S. K. Gupta,  Director (Finance), BSNL today,  and enquired about the status of the payment of salary for the month of April, 2020. The Director (Finance) replied that BSNL's revenue collections in the month of April are greatly affected due to the Lockdown and hence the Management is trying for bank loans to pay the salary.  The General Secretary urged upon the Director (Finance) to take necessary steps, to ensure early payment of the salary and  avoid sufferings of employees.

(1)  Shimogga SSA comrades - Rs.22,500/-

(2) Com. Sushma Kulkarni, BGTD - Rs.3,000/- 

(3) Com. L. D. Diddagowdar, VP, AIBDPA, KTK - Rs.2,000/-

(4)  Com. Shivegowda, rtd OS, BGTD - Rs.2,000/-

(5) Com. Padmalatha, Retd. SSS, CGMT - Rs.1,000/-

(6) Com. Pillappa, fort xge, BGTD - Rs.1,000/-

(7)  Com.Badavraj Hanumashetty, rtd, Kalburgi - Rs.1,000/-

(8)  Com. Basarimarad, OS, Belgavi - Rs.1,000/-

(9)  Com. Birendra, BS, yediyur, BGTD - Rs.1,000/-

As per the decision taken in the AUAB meeting held online 06.07.2020, a memorandum is to be submitted to all the members of the Parliament, urging upon them to intervene for the early roll out of BSNL’s 4G service as well as to ensure the expeditious revival of the Company. This is a very important task, since the support of the members of the Parliament will go in a big way to ensure the revival of BSNL. Hence, all circle and district secretaries are requested to take prompt steps, in coordination with the other constituents of the AUAB,  for the early submission of the memorandum to the MPs of their respective constituencies. A copy of the memorandum is enclosed herewith. 

(1) Com.  B.Suresh, JE(VRS) HTD-  Rs.2,000/-

(2) Com.B.Surender Rao, OS Rtd, Mahaboobnagar-  Rs.2,000/-

(3) Com. K.Narotham Reddy, SSS(O) retired, HTD -  Rs.1,000/-

(4) Com. K.Narasimha Rao, Union office secretary -  Rs.1,000/-

(5) Com.Seshaiah, DS, AIBDPA, HTD -  Rs.1,000/-

(6) Com. A.Sri Laxmi, OS(TG) retired HTD -  Rs.1,000/-

(7) Com. Ramachandradu, CS, AIBDPA TS - Rs.1,000/-

(8) Com. N.S.N. Murthy, SDE retired HTD -  Rs.1,000/-

(9) Com. D.Sikhamani, Sr.TM retired, HTD -  Rs.1,000/-

(10) Com. D.Shankar, Vice President CHQ, AIBDPA -  Rs.1,000/-

(11) Com..P.M.Appalachari, TT VRS, Khammam -  Rs.1,000/-

(12) Com. C.Chandrasekhar, OS retired, HTD - Rs.500/-

(13) Com. V.Manya, AGM retired, HTD - Rs.500/-

(14) Com. S.Prabhakar Rao, SDE retd.HTD - Rs.500/-

(15) Com. B.Venkatsham, Sr.TM retired, HTD - Rs.500/-

(16) Com. D.Padmavathi, OS retired, HTD - Rs.500/-

(17) Com. A.S.Laxmi Devi, OS retired, HTD - Rs.500/-

(18) Com.SK.Vazeeruddin, SDE, HTD - Rs.500/-

(19) Com. M.Sunder TT Rtd, Mahaboobnagar - Rs.500/-

(20) Com. C.Krishnaiah, TT retired, Mahaboobnagar - Rs.500/-

(21) Com.P.Padamavathamma, TT Rtd, Mahaboobnagar - Rs.500/-

Com.P.R. Das, former Circle Secretary, BSNLEU, Odisha circle, has donated Rs.2,000/- to the Contract Workers Relief Fund. CHQ appreciates Com.P.R.Das and heartily thanks him.

In the recently held 43^rd Annual General Meeting(AGM) of  Reliance Industries Limited(RIL), Mukesh Ambani announced that, Jio has developed it's own 5G technology. He announced that the “Made-In-India” 5G technology can be deployed within a year’s time, after 5G spectrum is made available.  This announcement has taken the telecom industry experts  by surprise . In this connection, we would  like to furnish the following information also.

Last year, when the DoT asked operators to submit their 5G trial proposals, Jio submitted it’s application jointly with Samsung. It is important to note that, Samsung is the supplier of Jio's 4G equipments. 

Subsequently, in March 2020, Jio informed the DoT that, it would broaden it’s 5G trial runs with Huawei, Ericsson and Nokia. It did not mention anything about its own 5G technology. 

However, now, i.e., in July,2020, Jio has announced that, it has designed and developed it’s own 5G technology. Now, the question is, whether Jio has developed the 5G technology within a period of 3 months, ie., after March, 2020?

On the day when the 43^rd AGM of RIL took place, wherein Mukesh Ambani made the big-bang announcement on 5G, the price of the shares of RIL fell 2% in the Bombay Stock Exchange. Is it an indication that, the shareholders of RIL did not believe Mukesh Ambani’s announcement on 5G technology? 

The Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB), in it’s meeting held yesterday the 13.03.2020, has selected Shri V. Ramesh, PGM, Gujarat, as the next Director (Enterprise Business) of BSNL. We heartily congratulate Shri V. Ramesh for his selection as the Director (EB). This selection is subject to the approval of the ACC.

In implementation of the call of the CHQ of BSNLEU, Com.Naresh Pal, DS, BSNLEU, Meerut, and CS, BSNL CCWF, UP(West) circle, took the initiative to collect donations from employees, pensioners and will-wishers, to provide relief to the contract workers. An amount of Rs. 26,600/- was collected.  In view of the lock-down, the amount collected, was distributed to the contract workers, at the rate of Rs.500/- per worker. CHQ heartily congratulates the District Union of Meerut for the initiative taken to provide relief to the contract workers.