New Delhi: Information and Broadcasting Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on May 27 asserted the conditional access system (CAS) would be implemented as scheduled on July 14, even as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) top leadership asked him to ensure that all "apprehensions" of the consumers on costs involved are addressed.

At a 90-minute meeting with Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani and attended by Prasad, a BJP delegation, led by party president Venkaiah Naidu, said the Ministry should ensure that all apprehensions in the minds of the consumers vis-a-vis CAS are removed before its implementation scheduled for July 14 in the four metros.

Advani sought the meeting amidst speculation on the fate of CAS.

Senior BJP leader V K Malhotra, who was also present, said that Advani asked Prasad to look into the party's demand and "it was unanimously decided to address the concerns of the consumers".

Naidu said after the meeting that though the party was not in principle against the concept of CAS, consumers' worries about the cost of set-top boxes that would be needed to access pay channels and the subscription rates going up should be removed.

Prasad added that CAS would be implemented as scheduled keeping concerns of consumers in mind. "CAS is on. But I am only ensuring that its roll over is smooth."

Asked if the BJP had sought deferment of CAS, he replied in the negative.

PTI