The Shiv Sena, a key constituent of the ruling National Democratic Alliance at the Centre, on Sunday reiterated its opposition to the Conditional Access System (CAS).

The proposed implementation of the CAS, which will allow consumers to chose the channels they would like to view, in south Mumbai from September 1 remained a non-starter due to fierce opposition by Sena, whose supporters form the bulk of the cable operators.

Speaking at a meeting of cable operators in Mumbai to fine-tune its strategy over the matter, Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray emphasised, "We will not allow the Union government to implement CAS in the metropolis in the interests of consumers and cable operators.

"If the government overcomes the drawbacks in the CAS, including on giving a free hand to pay channels, then we will allow CAS to be implemented in the city.

"We are ready for a discussion, but will not compromise against the interests of consumer and cable operators," he said.

Sena MP Sanjay Nirupam denied that the party was politicising the issue but was only concerned about its economics. He said the idea behind the implementation of CAS was to regularise pay channels.

"Instead, it will serve to regularise the free-to-air channels while the pay channels will still be beyond the control of the government," he said.

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