sena-mp-govt-sabotaged-bsnl-mtnl-s-4g-5g

Sena (UBT) leader and MP Arvind Sawant has accused the central government of obstructing MTNL and BSNL from launching 4G/5G services, resulting in significant customer losses.

Sawant, representing Mumbai South, highlighted a letter dated May 21, 2024, from Neeraj Mittal, Secretary of the Ministry of Communications, Department of Telecommunications.

BSNL/MTNL properties up for sale.

Oh ! What a timing of this letter !
When Code Of Conduct is still existing how can a Secretary issue such letter ?
Why he should not be questioned what he was doing since 2019 and he must answer it.
It's nothing but strangulation of BSNL &… pic.twitter.com/77cL47i5gk

— Arvind Sawant (@AGSawant) May 27, 2024

The letter, addressed to secretaries of all central government departments and chief secretaries of states and Union Territories, discusses the monetization of surplus land and building assets of the two PSUs.

"The Union Cabinet approved the revival plan of BSNL/MTNL in 2019, which includes monetization of their surplus assets," the letter states, highlighting the prime locations of these properties and offering them for outright sale to government departments, PSUs, and government organisations.

Sawant questioned the timing of the letter amid the ongoing Lok Sabha polls, stating, "Why should he (the secretary) not be questioned on what he has been doing since 2019? It is nothing but the strangulation and sabotage of BSNL and MTNL."

He further accused the government of preventing the launch of 4G/5G services under the pretext of Atmanirbhar, leading to customer losses and significant financial setbacks for the two telecom giants.

There was no immediate response from the Ministry of Communications regarding Sawant's allegations.