Reliance Jio rattled by subscribers deserting it? Writes to TRAI, alleging rival networks poaching them

Following a large number of requests for porting by customers, billionaire Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries’ telecom division Jio has written to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) alleging that rivals Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea were trying to turn the customers’ perception against it amid protests by farmers against the government’s agricultural laws.

The allegation was vociferously denied by Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea.

National Herald had recently reported how thousands of people had supported a call made by the agitating farmers’ to boycott products and facilities promoted by firms owned by Gautam Adani and Mukesh Ambani.

Reliance Jio claimed in its letter that rival networks were trying to create an impression that it stood to gain from the three laws. “We once again bring to your kind attention that as a result of aforementioned false propaganda of competitors to affect customer perception, we have been receiving a large number of port out (cancellation) requests,” it said in the letter.

Jio added that its rivals were promoting rumours for the “unethical pecuniary benefits in the form of induced porting of RJIL (Jio) customers”, according to a report carried by Mint.

Bharti Airtel and Vodafone both denied Jio’s “baseless” accusations. “Despite being provoked by some competitors who we know will go to any length to make baseless allegations, adopt bullying tactics and use intimidatory behaviour, we have always conducted our business with character and transparency something that we are deeply proud of and known for,” Airtel said in a letter, according to Mint.

Airtel said that Jio’s complaint deserved to be “thrown out with the contempt that it deserves”. “It is in poor taste and is scurrilous, to say the least,” it added.

Meanwhile, the hashtag #BoycottJioSim was trending on social media platform Twitter with thousands of users expressing support for the agitating farmers. We compiled a few posts: