Former Union Minister and BJP MP from Uttara Kannada Anantkumar Hegde has sparked a major controversy by calling BSNL employees “traitors” and “anti-nationals” who would be fired as they refused to work.
In a video of an event in Kumta in his parliamentary constituency on Monday, the MP was seen saying the State-owned BSNL was a blot on the country as even after being provided money, infrastructure and a ready market, the PSU telecom employees just refuse to work.
“The only cure for that is privatisation which our Government will do. Some 85,000 will be fired and later on more need to be fired,” he was seen saying in the video. Hegde was so angry with BSNL due to the delays in restoring services in calamities affected areas. He was seen sharing the lackluster and non-caring attitude of BSNL employees.
The Opposition Congress criticised Hegde’s remarks, saying the comments only showed his own worth. The party also said the Centre was out to privatise everything and this indicated its inability to govern.
