New Delhi erupted in controversy after Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia publicly condemned a BSNL director for receiving lavish VIP treatment during a personal trip to Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. Labeling the incident as a blatant violation of established protocols, Scindia declared such behavior utterly unacceptable and shocking.
The scandal broke when documents detailing extravagant arrangements for Director Vivek Bansal’s visit surfaced on social media. Reports revealed that nearly 50 employees were deployed over two days to manage 21 specific tasks. These included minute-by-minute schedules featuring boat rides, temple visits, holy dips at Triveni Sangam complete with bathing kits stocked with towels, oil, combs, and even undergarments.
Staff were instructed to arrange suits, take photographs, manage transportation, and stock vehicles with water bottles, chocolates, chips, and beverages. This opulent setup for what was described as a private journey sparked widespread outrage online.
Responding to media queries, Scindia was unequivocal. ‘This is inappropriate and breaches set rules and traditions. It is completely unacceptable to me and extremely shocking,’ he stated. He confirmed that a show-cause notice has been issued to the director, who must reply within seven days, with appropriate action to follow.
Scindia emphasized that in today’s era, no official deserves ‘royal treatment.’ Those found guilty will face consequences without leniency. The trip was promptly canceled after the backlash.
This comes at a challenging time for BSNL, the state-run telecom giant, which reported losses exceeding Rs 1,300 crore in the previous quarter. No official statement from the company has been released yet, but the incident underscores ongoing issues of accountability within public sector undertakings.