The Hindu Business Line : Ratan Tata meets Maran

COURTESY CALL: The Tata Group Chairman, Mr Ratan Tata, calls on the Union Communications and Information Technology Minister, Mr Dayanidhi Maran, in the Capital on Wednesday. They discussed a number of issues, including the controversial subscriber-linked spectrum policy. — Kamal Narang

New Delhi , June 28

The Tata Group Chairman, Mr Ratan Tata, on Wednesday met the Communications and IT Minister, Mr Dayanidhi Maran, to discuss a number of issues including the controversial subscriber-linked spectrum policy. The meeting between the two is the first to happen since relations between the Tata Group and the Communications Ministry went sour in recent months.

While Tata officials said that it was a courtesy call, industry sources indicated that it was a reconciliation meeting. The Tatas had earlier fiercely objected to the policy to allocate fresh spectrum based on number of subscribers. They had even alleged that the growth in subscriber base could be exaggerated by the operators to claim more spectrum. The group had shot off letters to the Communication Ministry seeking a review of the policy.

During the recently held Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, the opposition parties alleged that Mr Maran wanted the Tata Group to give a stake of its DTH company Tata Sky to Chennai-based Sun TV promoted by the Minister's brother, Mr Kalanidhi Maran. Mr Maran had vehemently denied the charges as being a political gimmick adopted by opposition parties to gain mileage in the elections.

A Tata official, however, said, "It was a courtesy meeting, conducted in the normal course of meetings, which Mr Tata regularly has, in his capacity as Chairman of Investment Commission and Tata Sons. Mr Maran invited Mr Tata for a meeting since the latter was in Delhi."

Chennai Bureau reports:

According to an official press release here, during the meeting, the possibilities of the Tata group investing in Tamil Nadu were also discussed. Mr Tata informed the Minister that the group was exploring avenues for investments in the State. Mr Tata assured the Minister that a survey team from the group would visit Tamil Nadu soon and submit a report.

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