Reliance Jio accuses Airtel & Vodafone-Idea of using farmer stir for MNP gains; moves TRAI

Days after a few farmer leers said y would boycott establishments owned by ani and Ambani which also included a call to boycott Jio SIM card, Reliance Jio has written to Telecom Regulator Authority of India (TRAI).

In its letter to Secretary, TRAI, telecom operator has sought strict action against Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea for "unethical practices" and "unscrupulous violations" and to stop campaigns under which "false propaganda is being spre across country to get some ditional MNP port-ins" by "capitalising on ongoing farmer protest in rrn parts of country".

'y are inciting public': Reliance Jio

Reliance Jio said its letter was in furrance of its letter of September 28, 2020 "highlighting unethical and anti-competitive MNP (mobile number portability) campaign being run by Airtel and VIL to capitalise on ongoing farmer protests in rrn parts of country".

"We submit that despite above submissions, se companies continue to remain directly/indirectly involved in supporting and furring insinuations and false and frivolous rumours of Reliance being an undue beneficiary of farm laws, for unethical pecuniary benefits in form of induced porting of RJIL customers," letter said. It said that Airtel and VIL "remain unabated in pursuing this vicious and divisive campaign through its employees, nts and retailers".

"y are inciting public by making preposterous claims that migrating Jio mobile numbers to ir networks would be an act of support to farmers' protests," said letter written on December 10. According to ANI,   letter was accompanied by pictures of "misleing and inciteful campaign" across Punjab and or rrn states. "We reiterate that in order to reap meagre gains in port-in numbers, se service providers are intentionally defacing RJIL by depicting it as being against farmers and projecting mselves as farmer-friendly, while at same time intentionally fanning anti-government protests."

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Airtel & Vodafone Idea refute Jio's claims

In response to Jio's claims, both Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea have termed complaint as "baseless" and refuted charges. Bharti Airtel in a letter to Trai said, "We wish to emphatically deny this baseless charge...Despite being provoked by some competitors who we kw will go to any length to make baseless allegations, opt bullying tactics and use intimidatory behaviour. We have always conducted our business with character and transparency something that we are deeply proud of and kwn for."

Vodafone Idea spokesperson said company believes in doing business with ethics. "se are baseless allegations against us to malign our reputation. We strongly refute such irresponsible comments on us," VIL spokesperson said. Thousands of farmers, mostly from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Presh, are protesting at various border points of Delhi against new farm laws enacted in Monsoon Session of Parliament.

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(With ncy inputs)