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. Reliance Communications is Facebook's sole telecom partner in India to offer a set of basic internet services free to its subscribers. It was earlier known as internet.org. Trai is yet to form a view whether Free Basics conforms to net neutrality.Facebook at present is driving a major marketing campaign across media platforms urging people to sign up for Free Basics.The Free Basics platform, which has been in place since the middle of 2014, had been initiated by Facebook, for what it says is a philanthropic activity, as the social media giant wanted to provide free basic internet connectivity to the unconnected across Asian, African and Latin American regions. The company has partnered more than a dozen mobile operators across 19 countries towards this.However, it has been criticized severely over the measure as net neutrality activists from various parts of the world said that the platform is "threatening freedom of expression" and presented a "walled garden" for first-time users.Faced with a barrage of criticism, the company in September this year decided to allow any application or developer on the platform, provided it "meets basic technical requirement". This clause has also been criticized by activists who opposed the "conditional entry" into Facebook platform as it militates against the "culture of freedom" on the wider internet.Apart from the telecom regulator, a parliamentary committee is also finalizing recommendations on net neutrality , which should also address the issues around zero-rated platforms such as Free Basics.