Facing risk of losing jobs in the wake of Supreme Court cancelling 2G licences, hundreds of
Uninor employees from various parts of the country on Thursday staged a demonstration demanding the company be allowed to continue operations till next round of spectrum auction.
The Supreme Court, on February 2, had cancelled
22 telecom licences of Uninor, a joint venture between
Telenor of Norway and domestic realty player Unitech, and as per the order its telecom business will cease by June 2.
"Less than 45 days are left for June 2 but nobody has given us assurance. Since we are not visible in Delhi, decision makers here feel we do not exist," Uninor Chief Regulatory Officer Pankaj Sharma said.
He added that in telecom business if a company stops functioning, then it will be difficult for it to start over again.
A letter signed by over 2,000 Uninor employees from across the country was also sent to offices of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal.
"We want what everyone wants: allow our company to continue till it can participate in the auction," the letter said.
While the apex court had asked the government to conduct the auction for 2G spectrum freed from cancellation of 122 licenses within four months, Department of Telecom has expressed its inability to complete the process within that timeline. Instead, it has sought 400 days to complete the process.
"...but there is no comment whatsoever on the extension of quashed licenses till the time auction process is completes," it added.