'Modi 'promoted' firms of 'capitalist friends' at expense of BSNL, MTNL'

New Delhi: The Congress on Thursday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi 'promoted' firms of his 'capitalist friends' at the expense of state-owned BSNL and MTNL.

Attacking government over a media report that claimed that in order to better the financial condition of BSNL and get it back on track, its board has approved several proposals, including voluntary retirement for 54,000 employees, Congress's chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said, "Whose telecom companies are BSNL and MTNL-- of the country's 130 crore people. Government-owned BSNL and MTNL have been destroyed. Both companies are in debt." "Modi ji has promoted the firms of his capitalist friends. BSNL and MTNL are now on the verge of closure," the Congress leader said.

Blaming Modi government for the downfall of state-own telecom service providers, Surjewala said, "Why Modi ji is not supporting the public sector companies when he has given bailout packages to private companies worth thousands and lakhs of crores."

Surjewala was reacting to a report that stated that BSNL's board has reportedly approved the proposal to lay off over 54,000 employees. It was also reported that the BSNL board has approved suggestions to reduce retirement age from the existing 60 years to 58 years, voluntary retirement scheme and fast-tracking allocation of 4G spectrums to BSNL.

Meanwhile, the BSNL has denied any such development. In an official release, the public telecom service provider said the so-called proposals pertaining to reduction in the retirement age of BSNL employees and retrenchment of a large number of employees are not true.