Privacy must but not at cost of right to Information

New Delhi, Aug 14: The CPI(M) today demanded setting up a House committee to suggest uniform guidelines to protect the privacy of an individual while safeguarding the freedom of expression with no encroachments on the free flow of information.

''Till such guidelines are drawn, the Honorable Speaker may form a House Committee for the purpose,'' CPI(M) Polit bureau member Sitaram Yechury told newspersons.

He said his party would also discuss the matter with other political parties, civil society and public opinion makers.

Earlier, party floor leader in the Lok Sabha Basudev Acharia sought the UPA government's intervention to direct the Maharashtra government to revoke its order wherein a Muslim going abroad has to produce a certificate from the employer and give his/her passport to the authorities.

''The Centre should take up this matter with the Maharashtra government so that the obnoxious order is withdrawn forthwith,'' Mr Acharia said.

Mr Yechury, quoting instances of other countries, said there must be a legal mechanism to protect the privacy of an individual while he was not against the sting operations.

On the ongoing controversy pertaining to the Indo-US nuclear deal, the CPI(M) leader said his party position was further vindicated when the External Affairs ministry recently directed the two Indian companies -- the Balaji Amines and Prachi productions -- to stop business dealings with Iran under the pressure of the US.

Replying a specific query, Mr Yechury said, ''we wonder how the Indian government has become so pro-active. The UPA government is acting more loyal than the King... It is also an indication of our future foreign policy. We hope that the PM, whenever he makes a statement on the floor of the House, will ally our fears.'' On the controversy over presence of pesticides in Coca Cola in the wake of findings of the Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment, the CPI(M) called for ''legalised norms''. He also called upon the Joint Parliamentary Committee to expedite its report on the issue.

UNI

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