2G cancellation case: Halla Bol, say Uninor employees

Even though employees of Uninor, a joint venture between Unitech Limited and Telenor group, may not have a job to go to after June 2, once the Supreme Court's 2G cancellation order becomes operative, most of them have decided to stay on board while hoping for a miracle, reports CNBC-TV18's Malvika Jain.

Gujarat is the state that saw Uninor add the maximum number of users in February.

Even as their future remains uncertain, employees of Uninor are not willing to walk away. Their battle cry of Halla Bol, expresses their anger and anguish, but who do they wage a war against? The company, the government or the Supreme Court?

As per the Supreme Court's 2G cancellation order, all 22 licenses of Unitech Wireless Limited are going to be quashed on June 2, but the employees and distributors of the company are sure that Uninor will somehow come out of this mess.

Azim Rangwala a Uninor distributor says, "My investment in comparison to Telenor is a mere amount.  Investment of Telenor is so high that it will safeguard its investment before me."

 "80% of the retailers have confidence and want the company to continue in their business", says Mitesh Shah, a Uninor distributor.

After Uninor's review petition was dismissed by the Supreme Court, Sigve Brekke the managing director of Uninor has taken upon himself to personally meet Uninor employees to keep their morale high.

Brekke says, "That's what I ask you to do after February 2, to go out in the stormy weather, to set up a windmill, to make new energy to make sure that business is even better than what it was yesterday."

The Uninor managing director with vast political experience has been able to strike an emotional chord with his people.

"I get surprised when people use this word "Corrupt Organization" because to my mind as an employee, the organization is not corrupt", says Manish Mehta, finance head of Gujarat, Uninor.

Kamlesh Chauhan, head of customer acquisition (Gujarat) Uninor says "The company takes care of its employees. After this news they have pre-poned our appraisal letter by one month."

"One very good thing that had happened was that our managing director had written a letter to my family saying the company is on course. This company has given me an assured lifestyle and it is my duty to stay on board till the end" says Dharmesh Davda, zonal business head of Gujarat, Uninor.

While the intentions of the employees and distributors may be noble, the final call in this matter will be taken by the Supreme Court which will soon hear Uninor's petition seeking a stay on its license cancellation until fresh auctions.