Bengaluru: The BJP MP from Uttara Kannada, Anantkumar Hegde has stirred up a controversy by terming employees of state-owned telecom giant BSNL “anti-nationals”.
A video clip of the MP, addressing a public meeting in Uttara Kannada’s Kumta Monday, shows him saying that BSNL is filled with “deshdrohis (traitors)”.
“Let me tell you, I am using the right words to describe them,” Hegde says before going on to insist that the Public Sector Unit (PSU) has become a “black spot” for the nation and that the Narendra Modi government is all set to bring in private players to take over the firm.
He adds that there are over 88,000 employees working with BSNL and yet the PSU has done nothing to improve the quality of its network.
“Can you imagine, even our government could not bring about order in the PSU,” Hegde says in the video.
Also read: 10 burial grounds to open in Bengaluru for patients who die of Covid, religion will be no bar
‘Will remove all 88,000 BSNL employees’
The leader claims that he pulled up several of the BSNL officials in a meeting in Karwar recently where he reiterated the point of calling them traitors.
“In this area (Uttara Kannada) you can at least get some mobile coverage but in places like Bengaluru you don’t get connectivity at all,” he says. “There are people working in the organisation, it has infrastructure, advanced technology is also available but the employees are not ready to work.”
The MP says that there is a lot of money that is pumped into the sector as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s dream of a digital India.
“In the coming days we will be removing all 88,000 employees and there could be more such developments,” Hegde says. “It would be like a major surgery. We have made up our mind to privatise BSNL and bring it back to order.”
The Print reached Hegde through phone calls and messages for a comment, but there was no response until the time of publishing this report.
Karnataka BJP backs MP
The Karnataka BJP is standing firmly behind the MP. Party spokesperson S. Prakash told ThePrint that Hegde was only stating the facts.
“His comment was only about the inefficiency in BSNL. Hegde is only trying to say that despite giving BSNL adequate infrastructure, the best of technology and the required funding, they are unable to penetrate into new areas,” Prakash told ThePrint.
On the issue of sacking 88,000 employees, the BJP spokesperson said that 75,000-80,000 BSNL employees have taken voluntary retirement and that is what the MP was referring to.
“He is not the minister in charge of deciding what will happen to BSNL. It is up to the Centre,” Prakash said.
A rabble-rouser with a penchant for controversy
Hegde has a history of conjuring up controversies. In December 2017, he claimed that the BJP government was in power to change the Constitution. Hegde was then a Union minister.
Months earlier, in October 2017, Hegde asked the Karnataka government to keep him out of the Tipu Sultan Jayanti as he believed the Muslim ruler was a “brutal killer, wretched fanatic and mass rapist”.
In January 2019, the MP said that the Kerala government’s handling of protests, against the entry of women into the Sabarimala shrine, was akin to “daylight rape of Hindus”.
Hegde has even attacked Mahatma Gandhi, describing the Gandhi-led freedom struggle as “drama” and claiming that it was “staged with the consent and support of the British”.
Also read: Dead landlines, billing issues — BSNL, MTNL users face poor service as staff opt for VRS
U bloody only u got votes on name of modi ur personally zero ur criminal who beat doctor… what’s ur education u dog……bsnl comes now in ur govt so ask ur bloody govt not employees u pig… U don’t give them 4g 5g.. Ur Big Fool modi supports and advertises ambani reliance and jio…. Why he didn’t do it with bsnl.. U bloody govt only wants everything to privatise.. So this is ur agenda by blaming ….because of this u didn’t get minister post…..
Next attack is on railway employee hegde will remove them also if they dont show progress
Such a rough comment. BSNL has earned a lot and given to indian govt in past decades. And this fool mister is saying bsnl is black spot.
While i say who r u to decide weather to close or keep bsnl working. 80000 employees will be fired causing unemployment.
Already as a youngster we r struggling for job. So add more jobless to make our life further comprising
Totally agree with him. BSNL-MTNL when they were in monopoly used to charge exorbitant amounts for terrible services. Amount of rent seeking and bribes that went in getting a phone connection is well known. Sell BSNL or close it down after firing each and every employee who have been a leach on tax payer money.
He is true representative of RSS which means the same things but never exposes itself. Who knows this paret may be repeating the thinking RSS.
He is absolutly right. I am saying this because of my recent experience. Even after continous follow up for 1.5 month, the broadband is not connected to my premises.
what technology upgradation was given to BSNL BY MODI GOVT?? NO 4G. 5G to BSNL. No instruments to replace. no fund for daily expenses. u people are killing BSNL. First all this politicians must be removed. who is doing corruptions???. a day will come where these corrupted politicians will be thrown out by WE INDIANS.
I agree with u.
As a bsnl customer, i concur with Mr Hegde. They are NPLs
This MP should immediately be admitted in a psychiatric hospital for brain scanning.He is a mad person and can bite any body like a mad dog !!
Indeed. He is really the one……hahahahah
U bloody only u got votes on name of modi ur personally zero ur criminal who beat doctor… what’s ur education u dog……bsnl comes now in ur govt so ask ur bloody govt not employees u pig… U don’t give them 4g 5g.. Ur Big Fool modi supports and advertises ambani reliance and jio…. Why he didn’t do it with bsnl.. U bloody govt only wants everything to privatise.. So this is ur agenda by blaming ….because of this u didn’t get minister post…..
Desh premis from India usually go to USA and become American citizens or try to become one. Usually these US citizens are most loyal Hindu nationalists and work hard for name and fame of India. Useless deshdrohi’s remain in India as Indian citizens.
He is the best human example of body present mind absent ……BSNL employees and contractor workers are working without salaries ….Govt was not allocated revival package until now and even 4G….if the BSNL loss please sell thier assets and settle BSNL employees …..all private operators are planning to move to 5G but Govt not even sanctioned 4G….instead of speaking bullshit ask your Modi strategy on BSNL and PM&FM seriuosly working from past 10 years …someone please wokeup BSNL UNIONS
Appreciate you input on this. Keep it up.
People aee mad but we must fight