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The Shiv Sena has opposed the digitisation deadline for cable TV that ends on 31st October and has warned that they would not allow cables to be cut off anywhere in Mumbai for those house holds who still haven't procured a set top box (STB).
Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray demanded that the deadline be extended till January 2013 as many people in Mumbai still haven't been able to get a STB.
Uddhav's statement, which has been carried in the Sena mouth piece Saamna and which he has been reiterating elsewhere too, says that the digitization has not been complete and the move to cut signals would force at least 30 per cent of households in Mumbai to be without cable TV.
"People are already suffering due to high fuel prices and the increase in the prices of LPG cylinders, many poor families will be unable to afford it. During Diwali, we won't allow people to be deprived from watching television," said Uddhav.
According to the Sena chief, contrary to the government claim that 100 per cent digitization is complete, only 70 per cent of households in Mumbai have got a STB, while the rest haven't. The Sena executive president alleged that the Union government had a ulterior motive in forcing the digitization.
According to Uddhav the centre's move was a bid to favour big companies. The Sena claims that most of these households are in slum pockets.
The Sena's threat that they won't allow people to be deprived of their cable TV cannot be taken lightly as the Cable Operators have a union which is headed by Sena leader Anil Parab. Parab echoed Uddhav's stand and threatened that those whose cable connections are snapped on November 1 would come on to the roads.
Sources said that the Sena is also opposed to the move as the digitization deadline also means that many households would simply switch over to Direct To Home (DTH) connections. Besides loosing their strangehold, the cable operators fear that having STB's would mean that the government would come to know of the exact number of cable connections a particular cable operator has which would mean no underreporting of cable connections to the government.
Interestingly, there is already a war brewing in Mumbai between cable operators and companies who provide (DTH) connections. Many households in Mumbai have realized that in stead of going in for a STB box, it is better to get a DTH connection.
However, in many areas of the city cable operators have began threatening and beating up employees of DTH when they have gone to put up a new connection.
"Instead of paying Rs.1,250 for a STB, I thought I would go for a DTH connection as it provide me a better picture clarity than a STB. Plus a STB would mean that I would still depend on the Cable operator. However the DTH operator's employee was not allowed to install it in our building by the local cable guy," said a Amit Paranjpe (name changed) a resident of Mulund in Mumbai.
DTH operators admit that many areas in the city are a 'no go' for them as the cable operators who virtually operate as a crime syndicate have threatened and beaten up their employees.
Read more at: Shiv Sena threatens stir against digitisation, cable union's goons beat up DTH operators in Mumbai : India, News - India Today
Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray demanded that the deadline be extended till January 2013 as many people in Mumbai still haven't been able to get a STB.
Uddhav's statement, which has been carried in the Sena mouth piece Saamna and which he has been reiterating elsewhere too, says that the digitization has not been complete and the move to cut signals would force at least 30 per cent of households in Mumbai to be without cable TV.
"People are already suffering due to high fuel prices and the increase in the prices of LPG cylinders, many poor families will be unable to afford it. During Diwali, we won't allow people to be deprived from watching television," said Uddhav.
According to the Sena chief, contrary to the government claim that 100 per cent digitization is complete, only 70 per cent of households in Mumbai have got a STB, while the rest haven't. The Sena executive president alleged that the Union government had a ulterior motive in forcing the digitization.
According to Uddhav the centre's move was a bid to favour big companies. The Sena claims that most of these households are in slum pockets.
The Sena's threat that they won't allow people to be deprived of their cable TV cannot be taken lightly as the Cable Operators have a union which is headed by Sena leader Anil Parab. Parab echoed Uddhav's stand and threatened that those whose cable connections are snapped on November 1 would come on to the roads.
Sources said that the Sena is also opposed to the move as the digitization deadline also means that many households would simply switch over to Direct To Home (DTH) connections. Besides loosing their strangehold, the cable operators fear that having STB's would mean that the government would come to know of the exact number of cable connections a particular cable operator has which would mean no underreporting of cable connections to the government.
Interestingly, there is already a war brewing in Mumbai between cable operators and companies who provide (DTH) connections. Many households in Mumbai have realized that in stead of going in for a STB box, it is better to get a DTH connection.
However, in many areas of the city cable operators have began threatening and beating up employees of DTH when they have gone to put up a new connection.
"Instead of paying Rs.1,250 for a STB, I thought I would go for a DTH connection as it provide me a better picture clarity than a STB. Plus a STB would mean that I would still depend on the Cable operator. However the DTH operator's employee was not allowed to install it in our building by the local cable guy," said a Amit Paranjpe (name changed) a resident of Mulund in Mumbai.
DTH operators admit that many areas in the city are a 'no go' for them as the cable operators who virtually operate as a crime syndicate have threatened and beaten up their employees.
Read more at: Shiv Sena threatens stir against digitisation, cable union's goons beat up DTH operators in Mumbai : India, News - India Today
