New Delhi, July 4 (TIWN) Urging the government not to agree to Vodafone Idea's plea to defer the April 2022 deadline for payment of Rs 8,292 crore spectrum installment, non-profit body 'Telecom Watchdog' has said that such requests are "unjustified" and "illegal".

"We are astonished with the request of VIL to defer payment of Government dues, due to its inability to raise funds which clearly establish its mismanagement of affairs in terms of operation and financial management. It has miserably failed to raise funds by dilution of equity and upgrade its networks with latest technology to reduce cost etc," said the letter by Telecom Watchdog Secretary Vikram Mittal. 

The NGO further expressed surprised over reports that the Department of Telecommunications is considering the request at a time when the country is striving hard to deal with the economic impact caused by Covid-19 pandemic and the country is making all-out effort to raise additional resources to address this situation.  It said that the deferments in payment of government dues are sought by misleading with incorrect facts and despite financially sound promoters.