New Delhi, Oct 31: Close on the heels of strong defence put up by Communication Minister Arun Shourie, various employees associations and DoT officials today rebuked attempts to character assassinate R S P Sinha, who stands on the top of list of recommended candidates to head MTNL. Sinha, presently working as director finance of MTNL, was cleared by public enterprises selection board but the Officers Association of Indian Telecom Services (ITSA) has taken cudgels against him saying that he was not eligible candidate and was facing charges of irregularities.

PSEB has recommended the name of A K Sinha of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd belonging to its cadre.

It is the second time in last three years that ITSA has opposed a top level appointment, the first being Vinod Vaish when he was secretary in department of telecom services.


"Though the final decision is yet to be taken, there is no such ruling from the cabinet that CMD has to be amongst Indian telecom services... What is more important is that the character assassination, as has been done by ITSA, should not be allowed," Vaish, who came back as DoT secretary after a short stint as labour secretary, told reporters. Responding to queries, Communication Minister Shourie had regretted earlier this week the attempts to character assassinate Sinha and said that "we have examined all allegations against Sinha and it turned out that those were false... If senior appointments are going to be blocked like this it is a very bad thing for all of us".

When contacted, Sinha declined to comment on the developments saying the MTNL CMD's appointment was government's prerogative and he would rather leave the issue with them. Bureau Report