Left meets PM, seeks govt intervention in UNI

New Delhi, Nov 7: Top leaders of major Left parties today met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and urged him to find ways to help turn around the United News of India (UNI) and maintain its "neutral and independent" character.

CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat and his CPI counterpart A B Bardhan sought the Centre's immediate intervention to stall the takeover of the 45-year-old news agency by a "single media company." They said out that the intervention of the government was inevitable to ensure that the "UNI functions as an effective news agency." A statement issued by the CPI(M) Central Committee office said Dr Singh informed the Left leaders that he was still awaiting a report from Information and Broadcasting Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi to decide how to act on the matter.

The Left leaders had earlier written to the Prime Minister regarding the necessity to maintain the neutral character of the UNI under section 25 of the Companies Act.

The sale of majority shares of the UNI to Mediavest has evoked strong opposition from the Left, the Congress and several other political parties.

UNI

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