The Congress on Friday questioned how three leading mobile service providers in India were allowed to hike their tariff unilaterally, without any oversight and regulation.
Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters, Congress general secretary Randeep Surjewala slammed the Modi government for allowing the telecom companies to “fleece” 109 crore mobile phone users. He called it an example of “crony capitalism” thriving under the Modi government, which had “sanctioned profiteering” by private telecom companies.
“Effective July 3, three private cell phone companies, Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea, have increased their tariffs by an average of 15%,” Mr. Surjewala said.
“Two things stand out: firstly, the date of announcement of increase of tariffs, appears to be clearly in consultation with each other. Secondly, the date of effective implementation of increased tariffs is the same,” he added.
The Congress leader cited the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India to argue that consumers will have to bear an additional burden of ₹34,824 crore because of the increase in tariffs.
Giving a break-up of the increase by Reliance Jio, Mr. Surjewala said from July 3, the company has increased its mobile phone user charges from 12% to 27% and the average increase is 20%.
Similarly, for Airtel, the Congress leader claimed the company has increased its user charges from 11% to 21% with the average increase being 15%. Vodafone Idea has increased its charges from 10% to 24% with the average increase being 16%, he added.
“Wasn’t the increase in charges withheld till the conclusion of the Parliament elections as the Modi government would have been questioned on the justification for burdening 109 crore mobile phone users and fleecing them of an extra ₹34,824 crore?” Mr. Surjewala asked.