CPM asks government to prevent UNI takeover bid

New Delhi, Sep 28 (UNI) Deploring attempts to take control of the United News of India (UNI) by a private media group, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) today asked the government to intervene to prevent the takeover bid and ensure the news agency's independent character.

The CPI (M) Polit Bureau said in a statement that the government has the power to regulate the affairs of the news agency, which was set up under Section 25 as a no-profit organisation.

The party along with the CPI, which had sought a probe into the deal, said the Left parties would raise the issue in the UPA-Left Coordination Committee meeting scheduled for October 4.

''The government of India has the power to regulate the affairs of the company under the law,'' the CPI (M) Polit Bureau said while urging the Centre to ''intervene in the matter to prevent the change.

According to the party, the Zee Group is poised to takeover the news agency despite widespread apprehensions that UNI should not come under the control of any single business house.

''There are grounds to believe that this transaction is inimical to the future of the UNI as a news agency and for its role as a premier news agency,'' the Polit Bureau said.

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