India's new communications and information technology minister said on Thursday he wanted competition in the telecom sector, but added that intense rivalries must not hurt corporate balance sheets.
"There must be competition. At the same time there must not be predatory practices. India is large enough so there's room for everybody," Arun Shourie, who is also in charge of the divestment ministry, told reporters. "No steps should be taken to block technology."
India's fast-growing telecom sector is in the midst of an intense price war between cellular operators and companies providing cheaper limited mobility services.
Shourie, appointed in a Cabinet reshuffle on Wednesday to replace Pramod Mahajan as communications minister, said he favoured transparency in the way government functions.
"There must be the fullest transparency both in the formulation and implementation of policy and also in every transaction in the departments or units reporting to these departments."