Kolkata, July 05: Continuing her tirade against the controversial Conditional Access System, Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dixit today said there could be a scam behind the Centre's haste in importing set top boxes from Europe and the US. "There is too much of a hurry to import STBs. A scam is not outside the realm of possibility. Some people are certainly not coming out clean on the issue," Dixit told reporters here.

Alleging that despite the confusion over the technology, its cost and benefits, the BJP-led government at the Centre had not made any efforts to clear doubts in people's minds, Dixit said it was not even clear why July 14 had initially been chosen as the date for the implementation of CAS. "We have been asking about the technology, whether they are junk pieces from Europe and America, and whether the Centre is ready with the estimated six million STBs needed for the Indian market. There are no convincing answers," she said.

Dixit expressed happiness that the implementation date had been deferred following widespread opposition for the "dubious and devious system."

"Even if we consider that this move comes in view of the forthcoming Delhi elections, I am glad the government has listened to what we had to say on CAS," Dixit said. Bureau Report