Upset over Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit's demand to defer Conditional Access System, cable operators' associations on Wednesday threatened to increase cable TV subscription if CAS was not implemented and accused the Congress of playing at the hands of the pay channel broadcasters' lobby.

"In case the government makes the mistake of a roll-back of CAS, we hereby categorically state that cable subscriptions will shoot up to Rs 450 per month as the cable operators will have no option but to pass on the burden of the total pay bouquets to the consumers," the Cable Networks Association warned in a letter to Dikshit.

It further said monthly subscription rates could go beyond Rs 500 by 2004 and urged her not to oppose CAS, which will "bring down the subscription to around Rs 250 and provide security against further arbitrary hikes in prices."

In another statement, the National Cable and Telecommunication Association president Vikki Choudhury said if CAS was deferred, chief ministers should issue a notification in the interest of the cable TV subscribers stating that to receive cable TV services, subscribers will have to pay Rs 100 reconnection charges and a total subscription of Rs 484.40.