Mark Zuckerberg works the lines to pitch for Facebook's Free Basics

BANGALORE: With Facebook's Free Basics internet services initiative facing a fierce backlash in India, the founder of social media platform Mark Zuckerberg has reached out to various stakeholders in the country to explain the company's stand.

Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma, who has been opposing Free Basics on social media for some time now, was one of those who got a call from Zuckerberg. The Facebook founder dialled Sharma on Tuesday for a discussion on what Free Basics can do to a billion people. It is learnt that Zuckerberg has also reached out to other entrepreneurs and mentors in the Indian startup space and has defended Free Basics, which hasn't gone down well with net neutrality crusaders.

Sharma confirmed to TOI that Zuckerberg had written an email to him over Free Basics, which was followed by a phone call on Tuesday morning. While Sharma did not share the details of the conversation, according to sources, Sharma is still opposed to Free Basics. Sharma had earlier said that the concept of Free Basics is a violation of net neutrality . Sharma, much like fellow emerging company founders, also argues that Facebook's platform will stifle the startup culture and curb innovation.

Net neutrality means internet service providers should enable access to all content and applications regardless of the source, and without favouring or blocking particular products or websites. "This will split the internet and block access, which basically violates the principle of net neutrality ," Sharma said.

Last week, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) had asked Reliance Communications to stop the Free Basics service, at least for some time.