Private telcos to gain Rs 36,000 cr/month from rate hike, at cost of consumers: Congress

All India Congress Committee spokesperson Pawan Khera Sunday said that private operators are set to gain Rs 36,000 crore every month from the tariff hikes on voice and data services, which will go from consumers' pockets.

In a statement, Khera said that an average voice tariff increase of Rs 100 per month for 120 crore subscribers would mean a benefit of Rs 12,000 crore while a Rs 200 increase in data tariff per month would lead to a benefit of Rs 24,000 crore. Khera questioned the government's decisions on allowing carriers to raise prices on one hand and on the other giving them a two-year moratorium on spectrum related payments including interest and penalties.

He questioned the step-motherly treatment to state-run telcos on giving them 4G. "Why have you delayed the process of permitting them to use 4G for 5 years... Basically what you are doing is - you are ensuring that these companies bleed to death," he said.

Khera alleged that the government was in cohorts with the industry. "There have to be a quid pro quo. Why would a Government go out of its way to destroy the profit making public sector companies and trying maximizing the profits of private sectors companies? At the end of the day we end up paying for these stunts," he added.