Press Council of India Chairman Justice Markandey Katju has sought a response from the West Bengal government on the order passed by it restricting the number of newspapers to be subscribed by libraries run, aided or sponsored by the State to a prescribed list.
Justice Katju has written a letter dated April 4 to the Secretary of the Information and Cultural Affairs after receiving a complaint from the Indian Journalists Union (IJU) which has described the order as “a frontal attack on the freedom of the press.” Forwarding the compliant to the State government, he has asked for a response.
The IJU letter states: “It seems that the government headed by Ms. Mamata Banerjee wants the people of West Bengal to read dailies chosen by it.”
Stating that it is “unacceptable in a democratic society” and “it impinges on their [the people's] right of choice of their reading,” it urges the Press Council of India to take suo motu cognisance of the order and take necessary action.
The State's government recently issued a circular stating that only eight newspapers that featured in a list drawn up by it can be made available to visitors to these libraries. Subsequently another five were added to the list.
The move has created a furore across all sections of civil society as well as every other political party, barring the Trinamool Congress, who expressed their severe opposition to it.
Keywords: West Bengal libraries, newspaper restrictions
Oflate many of the newspapers (verancular newspapers in particular) have resorted to publishing biased news. They have started taking sides thereby forgetting their responsibility to report the news without fear or favour. Journalists and editors should mind this before they cry foul!
In his days Joseph Goebles, Propaganda minister of Third Reich,at the instance of hitler, would allow none to read anything without Government approval.Censorship was rampant in the Nazi state All forms of media,Radio,newspaper,books etc. were not allowed to be aired or published without Government approval.One could read and hear only what Nazi bosses would allow them to read and hear..Even music used to be controlled Nobody was allowed to go beyond norms of reading and hearing set by the Nazi Party bosses. Goebles' another propaganda strategy was to repeat lies till it was perceived to be true. This was done from different angles and directions till it got into one's head.We are lucky that all of the above methods have not yet been tried.
The decision of the mamata government on restricting news papers in the library is
shocking. The act amounts to discrimination and goes against the fundamental rights
Enshrined in the RULE BOOK of India. Depending upon the finances available, the
Govt however can limit the papers, but that has to be done in a democratic manner and not
In the manner resorted to by the chief minister of west Bengal . The country believes in the
Rule of law and the state should give all respect to law. The govt should not follow the
Dictatorial style and invite the wrath of the common man. Our Constituion gives importance
To the people of India in the preamble and the chief minister of the state will be worshipped
If she also gives importance to the people of the state. The whole nation is watching this
Development and one hopes that Katju J , a jurist of repute will be able to sort out this
issue with the govt n a constitutional manner .C.P.Chandra Das from USA.
I suppose the IJU should also ask all newspapers and find out whether what they print is all truth? If honestly answered the response would be shocking
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