Government to examine UNI takeover deal, says Dasmunsi

New Delhi, Sep 25: In the face of mounting protests against the controversial bid of a private media group to take over United News of India (UNI), the government today said it would examine the whole affair.

Information and Broadcasting Minister P R Dasmunsi told reporters that the government has proposed to the Board of Directors of the news agency to postpone ''by one month'' its scheduled meeting tomorrow to ratify the deal giving majority stake to the media house.

Mr Dasmunsi said he has called a meeting later today with Mr Manoj Santhalia, Chairman of the UNI Board, and Mr Subhash Chandra Goyal, head of the Essel Group, which has made the takeover bid, to discuss the issue.

''I will report back to the Prime Minister on the issue after the meeting,'' Mr Dasmunsi said.

Replying to a question, the Minister said the government had the right to intervene in the matter under Section 25 of the Companies Act under which a company is created for a public cause and the government allots land free of cost.

Several political parties, including the Left parties, had written letters to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh urging him to abort the deal to protect the independent character of the news agency, which functions on a no-profit basis.

The deal had also been opposed by civil rights groups, journalists' unions and academics.

Mr Dasmunsi said the government would ensure that the interests of the employees of the news agency were protected. The government will talk to the all the parties involved in the matter - UNI employees, UNI Board and the Essel group - on the issue. The essential character of UNI as a news agency would be protected, Mr Dasmunsi said.

UNI

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