NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has revealed that there was pressure on him not to conduct the FM Phase III auctions.

Addressing the nation from the ramparts of Red Fort on Independence Day, Modi said he indicated some very high placed persons attempted to dissuade him.

He said their argument was that radio was a medium of communication for the common man, and did not fetch any income.

Even as his attention was sought to be drawn to other issues, he said FM would benefit the 1.25 crore Team India population. These people wanted transparency, he said.

FM e-auctions were on in around 85 cities and he had been informed that the revenue had already crossed Rs 1000 crore.

This money, he claimed, would be used for ameliorating poverty.

Early in his address, he had said that Team India for him comprised the entire population of the country, including its media.