Breaking News: MP Police to Switch from BSNL to Airtel, Politics Erupts Over 5G SIM Porting Move | ABP NEWS

In a significant move, the Madhya Pradesh Police has announced that around 8,000 BSNL SIM cards used by personnel will be ported to a private telecom provider, Airtel. The decision was reportedly taken due to complaints of poor 3G/4G connectivity in remote regions, which hampers communication and digital policing. The state government has approved the distribution of 8,000 Airtel 5G connections to modernize police operations. However, the move has sparked political controversy. Congress MLA Jaivardhan Singh questioned the shift from the public sector BSNL to a private company, especially when Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, who hails from Madhya Pradesh, heads the telecom ministry. Singh alleged a possible conspiracy to benefit private entities at the cost of public sector units like BSNL. While the state BJP government defended the move, calling it necessary for police modernization and better public service, BSNL maintained there is no major network issue. Critics, however, argue that instead of improving BSNL’s services, the government is opting for privatization. The controversy highlights broader questions over the future of public telecom services and the balance between modernization and privatization in critical government sectors.