The Hindu : National : Spat over telecom expansion

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Aug 25, 2006

National

National

Spat over telecom expansion

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI : Minister for Communications and Information Technology Dayanidhi Maran and Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Sitaram Yechury on Thursday had a spat in the Rajya Sabha over the issue of delay in the expansion of telecom network by the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and the Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL). Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was present at the time.

After several members had raised supplementaries during question hour on poor availability and services of BSNL and MTNL in comparison with private telephone operators, Mr. Yechury sought to know whether it was "deliberate not to install towers to expand the [MTNL, BSNL] network in order to favour private telephone companies..."

Immediately, the Minister was on his feet. "This is wrong. You are demoralising workers [of MTNL and BSNL]."

Mr. Yechury said why would he demoralise workers. "We run the unions there. What I am asking is on the basis of what some of the unions have told us."

Mr. Maran asked Mr. Yechury to put that down in writing because MTNL and BSNL were competing with private companies. "You have not heard me. I said we are constantly expanding," he told Mr. Yechury.

At this, the CPI(M) leader said he was in the House throughout question hour and had heard the Minister. "Such impertinence is not expected," he said.

"What is this? Why is the Minister shouting?" asked Brinda Karat (CPI-M).

Later, Mr. Maran shot off a letter to Mr. Yechury, referring to his statement in the Rajya Sabha and said Mr. Yechury had met him a number of times earlier and not shared this information.

However, "if you kindly let me have the details that the unions have provided to you, I can immediately have an inquiry conducted in the matter and put an end to such tendencies, if any."

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