Joining the issue of raging controversy over hike in subscription rates of cable channels, the cable operators across the metropolis have decided not to air pay channels for a day from midnight.

A decision in this regard was taken at the cable operators' meeting held in Mumbai, a spokesman of the operators said.

The cable operators have blamed broadcasting companies for hike in subscription rates, against which the customers have been complaining.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Cable Consumers' Action Committee spokesman, Sudhakar Velankar has blamed the "multi-national broadcasting companies for sudden hike in cable television rates."

He blamed both the Centre and the state government for "failing to rein in the MNCs."   

Velankar strongly supported the cable operators move to blank "pay channels" for a day but said they are fighting for their cause and "consumers' fight will continue."

Lashing out at Bharatiya Janata Party MP Kirit Somaiya, who has taken up the issue against the cable operators, WIN cable distributors Suvarn Amonkar and Sadanand Kadam said, "It is a shame that the BJP MP, who has filed a petition in the high court, has made the Union government a respondent."