The BJP on Friday announced launch of a campaign demanding telecom operators to pay subscribers for pesky SMSes and automated calls from telemarketers.


The BJP, through its "Cash for Spam" campaign, will seek implementation of a system that makes mandatory for telecom operators to pay subscribers for unsolicited text messages and automated voice calls on their mobile phones.


"Instead of the government levying penalty on telecom operators, it should ask them to pay Rs 5 and Rs 10 for unsolicited SMSes and automated calls respectively to the subscribers," BJP Telecom Consumer Cell National Convener Sanjay Bhalla said.


"Telemarketers should pay to the telecom operators and the amount will get credited into the account of the subscriber through the operator," Bhalla added.

Asked about the feasibility of meeting the demand within the parameters of the law, Bhalla said, "By law, the cell phone is the private property of the telecom users and hence it is subscribers' right to get paid for pesky calls and SMSes."

Tagged as 'Cash for Spam', the campaign will use the social media to create awareness among the youth. "The youth are conscious of cell phone bills and privacy issues," Bhalla said. The party is targeting support people on facebook and other social networking sites before submitting a memorandum on their demand to TRAI.

In a month, "we will also organise regional conferences with telecom users across the country as part of this campaign," besides meeting college and university students on this matter, he said.

The BJP also plans to set up a special number where consumers could register their support, besides using the medium of chain mails, digital campaigns to put pressure on the government and telecom operators to pay for unsolicited SMSes and automated calls.

"We will also enlist celebrity support and consumer groups," Bhalla said, adding he had earlier met TRAI chairman and submitted the party's demands on the matter, but telecom regulator is still to take any action in this regard.