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Journalism of Courage
The real stakeholders in the CAS saga turned up today to give a piece of their minds to Information and Broadcasting Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad 8212; and went back blessing him.
The Delhi Residents Welfare Association Joint Front, representing 126 resident organisations in the Capital 8212; had serious doubts on the Government8217;s plans to roll out CAS 8212; and left after extracting promises from the Minister. Later Prasad said, this was his second meeting with the consumers and he would work towards removing all apprehensions. The Minister indicated that the Government was committed to ensure that the Rs 72 plus taxes cable bill runs its course through December.
The Minister was meeting consumers in the backdrop of broadcasters8217; threat to cut the Government-sponsored honeymoon short by three months. Prasad said the consumers had indicated the need for a redressal forum and a permanent stake in the Government8217;s task force on CAS 8212; both suggestions he is open to.
Meanwhile, the Government seems to have lost its last ally 8212; the last mile operator who have rejected the Rs 72-government sponsored package for a phased, zone-wise roll out of CAS. Operators said they would black out pay channels if CAS is deferred further.
Clarifying that they were not aligned with broadcasters, the Cable Networks Association, general secretary Rakesh Datta said the Government8217;s rollback of the July 15 deadline, on the assumption there were no set-top boxes, is patently not true. 8216;8216;The truth is there is no demand for the boxes, because of the uncertainty,8217;8217; he said.
8216;8216;Give a clear signal that there will be no more rollbacks 8212; and implement CAS in all the four metros simultaneously, otherwise we have reasons to believe that broadcasters will sabotage the phased roll-out and build grounds to defer it,8217;8217; said Datta.
