Raja accused for interfering in BSNL tender

NEW DELHI: A CPI-M leader on Thursday accused Communications Minister A Raja of interfering in the tender process of state-run telecom firm BSNL and favouring a multinational company.

Raising the issue during zero hour, Rupchand Pal claimed that the Minister was favouring a multinational whose tender for creating 45.5 million GSM lines was rejected by the public sector company.

BSNL had last year rejected the bid of US equipment supplier Motorola, while selecting Ericsson of Sweden and Nokia-Siemens for laying the GSM lines. After taking charge as the minister earlier this year, Raja had sought to know from BSNL the reasons for disqualifying Motorola.

Noting that Raja had given the "dangerous direction" of splitting the tender between 2G and 3G, Pal said the "undue and unwarranted" interference was affecting the autonomy of the BSNL and was delaying the equipment procurement.

The member wanted the House to take up a full-fledged discussion on the tendering process.