Shiv Sena hits out at Reliance, Centre

Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray today slammed the Centre's Digital India plan saying that one could not download "rozi roti" (livelihood).

The Digital India programme aims at transforming the country into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy.

The Shiv Sena is constituent of the BJP-led governments at the Centre as well as Maharashtra.

Addressing a meeting here, Thackeray also said that cable operators were worried over plans by Reliance Jio to start fibre-to-home broadband services.

He said that the firm planned to provide these services free for a few months and termed it "inducement".

Reliance Jio, on July 5 this year, had announced ambitious plans to provide ultra-high speed fibre-based broadband services in 1,100 cities across the country.

"It is said the service will be free for few months. Providing everything free is inducement," the Sena chief said while addressing cable operators affiliated to his party.

Promising support to the cable operators, Thackeray said, "Cable operators and distributors have set up their businesses after years of hard work and Shiv Sena will not let them suffer."
Without naming the private firm, Thackeray said, "Don't enter the market by destroying the livelihood of others. We are ready to fight. But I feel the firm should enter into an understanding with these people."