MP scribes against UNI sale

Bhopal, Sep 22 (UNI) The Madhya Pradesh Working Journalists' Union (MPWJU) today submitted a memorandum to 'Nava Bharat' Group of Newspapers Chief Editor Prafulla Kumar Maheshwari against a move to hand over the United News of India's majority stake to the Essel Group, promoted by Zee Telefilms Chairman Subhash Chandra.

''The agency is suffering a financial loss but it can be made up,'' Mr Maheshwari, who is on the UNI Board of Directors, told the delegation headed by MPWJU leader Shalabh Bhadoria.

''The UNI journalists will have to play a cardinal role in roping in more and more subscribers,'' the agency's former Chairman, for two terms, suggested.

When it was pointed out that the agency's employees were extremely concerned over the proposed deal, Mr Maheshwari, a former Rajya Sabha Member, assured that he would endeavour to guard their interests.

UNI Team RP HT1808