No industrial house will be allowed to influence the government's policies, Telecom Minister Arun Shourie assured the Rajya Sabha on Monday, while replying to charges that lobbyists and industrial houses play a role in the formation of policy framework.
"No lobbyists will be able to influence us. If that happens, you can censure me for dereliction," he said.
Replying to another question, Shourie said that Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd are ready with 'alternative packages' without raising the monthly rentals for basic telephones. Besides, the pulse rate has not been decreased, while the inter-circle STD rates have been reduced from Rs 4.80 to Rs 2.40 a minute.
Shourie said that BSNL and MTNL did feel that the original Telecom Regulatory Authority of India order was tilted against them in regard to a few issues and they have appealed to the regulator for a review.
He expressed confidence that the regulator would review these points.
BSNL has sought a TRAI intervention asking for a level playing field.
When TRAI said that BSNL could not restrict the 50 paise per minute charge to its network alone, BSNL appealed that no private sector operator too should be allowed to confine the 40 paise per minute STD rates to its network alone.
Shourie said BSNL has also sought a review of the change in definition of 'rural subscriber' as given by TRAI.
"If the change in the definition is followed, of the 10 million subscribers, 8 million would not remain rural subscribers," he said.
UNI
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