Maran denies sidelining BSNL's interests

Chennai, May 14 (UNI) Union Communication and Information Technology Minister Dayanidhi Maran today denied that he showed any special concession to private telecom service providers against the interests of the public sector BSNL.

''In fact, the BSNL has doubled its operations and recorded a profit of 27 per cent,'' he told newspersons here, in reply to a query on the reported allegation that Mr Maran had sidelined BSNL's interests and extended several concessions to the private players.

Recalling the resounding success of his novel scheme, 'One India' plan, in which people could talk from Kashmir to Kanyakumari with Re 1, Mr Maran said he was getting ready to do away with roaming charges from June 3 on the occassion of his granduncle and DMK President M Karunanidhi's birthday.

''I will appeal to my successor to continue my efforts for implementing roaming-free scheme on Mr Karunanidhi's birthday,'' he said.

UNI