Shiv Sena hits out at Reliance, Centre

MUMBAI: Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray today slammed the Centre’s Digital India plan saying that one could not download “rozi roti” (livelihood).nnThe Digital India programme aims at transforming the country into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy.nnThe Shiv Sena is constituent of the BJP-led governments at the Centre as well as Maharashtra.nnAddressing a meeting here, Thackeray also said that cable operators were worried over plans by Reliance Jio to start fibre-to-home broadband services.nnHe said that the firm planned to provide these services free for a few months and termed it “inducement”.nnReliance 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.nn”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.nnPromising 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.”nnThe cable business had come under threat earlier, the Sena chief said, by the introduction of set top boxes which too was brought in when there was a BJP-led government at the Centre.nnWithout 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.”nnThackeray also took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking him to take a cue from the company and provide essential commodities free to the people of the country.nn”If Jio is giving everything free, Prime Minister Narendra Modi should learn from the company. Petrol, diesel, vegetables, fruits and milk should also be given free (by the government),” he saidnnSource: Press Trust of India