The Hindu Business Line : I&B Minister likely to meet Thackeray on CAS

WITH the implementation of the conditional access system (CAS) becoming a political flashpoint, the Information and Broadcasting Minister, Mr Ravi Shankar Prasad, is on a fire-fighting mission. After trying to make the proposed system consumer-friendly, he will try to make the BJP-ally Shiv Sena Supremo, Mr Bal Thackeray, see the benefits of the new system at a meeting in Mumbai on Friday.

Mr Thackeray has been vocal in opposing CAS. He had said last week, "CAS is totally anti-consumer. Consumers will have to buy a set-top box for each of the TVs in their rooms. That is Rs 6,000 for each TV set. The middle-class will not be able to bear this burden." He added, "I will not highlight what steps we will take in opposition, but go against it we will."

The meeting assumes significance because the Government has been trying hard to push through CAS despite opposition from within and outside the party.

Earlier the Shiv Sena MP, Mr Sanjay Nirupam, had made a plea to the Minister to block the move to CAS. Senior BJP leaders such as Mr Madan Lal Khurana had also opposed CAS as he felt that this might not augur well in an election year. The Standing Committee on Information Technology headed by Mr Somnath Chatterjee (CPM) also opposed CAS, while the Delhi Chief Minister, Ms Shiela Dixit (who belongs to the Congress), had come out against CAS and called it anti-consumer.

Sources said that Mr Prasad was likely to use all his negotiating skills to convince Mr Thackeray of the benefits of CAS. "Opposition from political circles in Mumbai and Delhi have been the loudest. It is important to build a consensus among political forces in Mumbai and Delhi to ensure the success of CAS. These two are big markets and implementation of CAS has become an important agenda for the Government."

Last month, the Prime Minister's Office had summoned the I&B Minister and sought details on CAS. Mr Vajpayee while supporting CAS had said that it must be made `consumer-friendly'. Subsequently, the Government brought down the customs duty on set-top boxes from 55 per cent to 5 per cent leading to a drop in prices.

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