All the 3000 plus employees of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) in East Godavari District were observing strike in response to the call given by the Joint Action Committee of the BSNL Unions and Associations at the National Level. The call was to observe three-day strike from Wednesday. They demanded repayment of Rs. 18,500 Crs that was paid by the BSNL to the Central Government towards 3G Spectrum and Broadband Wireless Access license fee. Complaints pertaining to non-functioning of BSNL telephones and broadband connections remained unaddressed for the second consecutive day as the employees of the BSNL continued their agitation on Thursday. The employees staged a sit-in in front of the BSNL's local head office near Jaya Residency. Public reaching the office to apply for new telephone/mobile connection, buy recharge coupons or to lodge complaints returned empty handed. This resulted in a lot of inconvenience to BSNL subscribers. General Secretary of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) of East Godavari District unit, Mr. Duvva Sesha Babji, who visited the agitating employees, joined with them. He said that repayment of the fee was the only way to protect the BSNL from the possible fears of privatization.