Paswan yields to telecom officers' demand

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, JUNE 6. The Union Ministerfor Communication, Mr. Ram Vilas Paswan, met agitating telecom officers late tonight and is understood to have agreed in principle with their demand for replacement of the recently appointed IAS officer as the head of the Department of Telecom Services with a technocrat, preferably from the Indian Telecom Service (ITS) cadre.

In the one-hour-long meeting with office-bearers of the ITS Association(ITSA), who stepped up their agitation by beginning a relay fast today, Mr. Paswan is also understood to have assured them that senior Ministers will be apprised with their demand for continuation of a ITS officer as the head of DTS.

According to sources, in the absence of the Prime Minister, Mr. Paswan is likely to meet the Union Home Minister, Mr. L. K. Advani, and acquaint him with the nature of the demand against the backdrop of continuing agitation by over 6,000 class I officers of the Central Government which is a rare occurrence.

ITS officers, on the other hand, said despite the expression of sympathy by the Minister, they will continue the relay fast with representatives from all over the country marking their presence in turns. The present round of agitation will culminate in a one- day strike on June 16. The officers pointed out that their agitation will be entirely peaceful and there will be no disruption of services as far as possible.

Meanwhile, telecom officers claimed to have gathered the support of 41 MPs including many from the ruling NDA alliance. Some MPs from the BJP and Mr. Paswan's Janata Dal (United) have also supported their stir. The CPI leader, Mr. Indrajit Gupta is also said to have assured them support.

It may be recalled that this is the second stint as the head of DTS for the IAS officer, Mr. Vinod Vaish. He was earlier appointed DTS Secretary on October 15 last year but the appointment orders were reversed six days later and the senior- most ITS officer, Mr. P. S. Saran, was appointed in his place. But the equanimity was disturbed with the appointment of Mr. Vaish after Mr. Saran reached the age of superannuation on May 31.

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