Tata says Rajeev resorting to "cheap gimmicks"

New Delhi, Dec 18: 'Tis the season for open letters and everybody is going out of their way throwing blames and pointing accusing fingers at everybody else. Ratan Tata, through Tata Tele Services Ltd is doing more or less the same in his reply to MP Rajeev Chadrasekhar's scathing open letter. This time though the response has come in the form of a press note from TTSL rebutting all the accusations thrown by MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar.

In the press note, Tata Tele Services Ltd (TTSL) gives a point-by-point counter-argument for all the charges posed by Rajeev. "Tata Teleservices Limited got its UASL in line with the then policy of the Govt of India for all operators, namely after paying a fee equivalent to that paid by the 4th cellular licensee", the statement says.

It also rubbished the alleged involvement of Pradeep Baijal, the then telecom Regulator and his involvement with the Tata group. TTSL responds that Pradeep had limited powers in his capacity and final decision was up to TRAI to accept the recommendations by him.

The response also gave its views on accusations of spectrum hoardings and getting 2G spectrum prices at 2001 rates and commented, "Tata Tele Services reiterates that it has never obtained any benefits or concessions or licences.....On the contrary, it has always been put behind in the queue, which is also evident from the fact that even three years after having paid the license fee of Rs 1,651 crore, Tata Teleservices has not received 2G GSM spectrum in Delhi, as also in 39 crucial districts of nine other circles. The CAG Report also specifically mentions this injustice to TTSL."

The statement also described the letters sent out by MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar as resorting to "cheap gimmicks" and the debate created by him "futile". They also reiterated in no-less terms that keeping in mind of the ongoing investigations ordered by the Supreme Court would not keep the matter alive any further and will not respond to other arguments by Rajeev Chandrasekhar.

OneIndia News