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Govt plans soft launch of CAS, Delhi BJP opposes
New Delhi, June 27: Facing BJP`s strong reservations, Government appears to be going flexible on Conditional Access System (CAS) with a
New Delhi, June 27: Facing BJP`s strong reservations, Government appears to be going flexible on Conditional Access System (CAS) with a "soft launch" on July 15 and is not likely to make set-top boxes mandatory for viewing pay channels from this date.
"We will implement CAS on July 15. But we will be a little more imaginative and ensure no one is harassed," Pawan Chopra, secretary, Information and Broadcasting Ministry, told news agency.
He said the law will apply when there are enough set-top boxes and can be made available immediately on demand.
"The penal provisions should be made effective only then," Chopra said.
Government will go for a "soft launch" of CAS, he said adding that this would be technologically possible. Admitting that the six-month deadline was a little "tight" for its implementation, he said there was still no clarity on rates of pay channels.
Meanwhile, fearing a backlash in the coming assembly polls, Delhi BJP today voiced serious reservations over the Centre`s move to implement the Conditional Access System from July 15 with party unit chief Madan Lal Khurana saying he would approach Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to seek a review of the decision.
Seeking to corner BJP in the run up to the assembly polls, Delhi`s Congress Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit also voiced opposition to the move, saying it was being "forced" onto the people. The Central government should clarify that it would safeguard the interests of the consumer and convince them that they would face no additional burden, he said.
Dikshit, while asserting that her party would make CAS a major issue in polls, said the system may be technically good but questioned the logic of implementing it when the Centre was planning to introduce direct-to-home viewing a few months from now.
Bureau Report
He said the law will apply when there are enough set-top boxes and can be made available immediately on demand.
"The penal provisions should be made effective only then," Chopra said.
Government will go for a "soft launch" of CAS, he said adding that this would be technologically possible. Admitting that the six-month deadline was a little "tight" for its implementation, he said there was still no clarity on rates of pay channels.
Meanwhile, fearing a backlash in the coming assembly polls, Delhi BJP today voiced serious reservations over the Centre`s move to implement the Conditional Access System from July 15 with party unit chief Madan Lal Khurana saying he would approach Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to seek a review of the decision.
Seeking to corner BJP in the run up to the assembly polls, Delhi`s Congress Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit also voiced opposition to the move, saying it was being "forced" onto the people. The Central government should clarify that it would safeguard the interests of the consumer and convince them that they would face no additional burden, he said.
Dikshit, while asserting that her party would make CAS a major issue in polls, said the system may be technically good but questioned the logic of implementing it when the Centre was planning to introduce direct-to-home viewing a few months from now.
Bureau Report