No split in GoM on policy, says finance ministry

The finance ministry has issued a statement asserting that there is no disagreement or difference in approach within the Group of Ministers that is going into contentious telecom policy issues.

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In a note released to the press this evening, it said: "Reports appearing in a section of the press can lead to an inference that there is disagreement among the Group of Ministers. It is emphatically stated that there is no disagreement on any of these issues."

It may be recalled that Communications Minister Arun Shourie had briefed the press immediately after the GoM's first meeting last Thursday, and said there was agreement in principle on moving towards a unified licence for all telecom operators.

Subsequent reports, attributed to officials and others, had suggested that there was no such agreement at the meeting.

Further, the finance minister in an interview to Business Standard over the weekend, had said there was no decision on three of the eight subjects before the GoM, including the issue of unified licensing, and that further discussions would be held.

The press note does not refer to the finance minister's interview, but asserts that all decisions at the GoM meeting on September 25 were unanimous, including on "charting a course towards a universal licence (unified licensing regime)", on reviewing the adequacy of steps for enforcing limited mobility for WLL operators and recommending future action in this regard.

Without specifically saying so, the press note endorses Arun Shourie's position that there has been agreement on moving towards a unified licence for all telecom operators.