PM studying I

New Delhi, Nov 15: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is studying the status report on United News of India (UNI) submitted to him by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry in the wake of the sale of majority stake in the news agency to a media house.

''The Prime Minister has received the report two days ago. We are waiting for him to study the report,'' CPI (M) General Secretary Prakash Karat told a news conference this afternoon.

The Left parties had twice led a delegation to the Prime Minister seeking his intervention to thwart any attempt sell majority stake in UNI to a particular group.

The CPI (M) leader said Dr Singh told Left leaders at the UPA-Left Coordination Committee meeting on Monday that he had received the report from Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi.

Mr Karat quoted the Prime Minister having told CPI general secretary A B Bardhan at the meeting that he had ''just received the report''.

Earlier, the CPI (M) general secretary was asked for his comments on the shape of discussions taking place between the government and the Left parties on the UNI issue.

''Just discussions are not taking place. Our position is clear from day one. We are opposed to the deal in the interest of the maintaining the neutral and independent character of the news agency and the larger interest of freedom of the press,'' Mr Karat said.

UNI