Dasmunsi begins consultations on UNI issue

New Delhi, Nov 18: Information and Broadcasting Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi today began consultations on the issue of the sale of a majority stake in UNI to a media house.

Mr Dasmunsi first met a delegation of UNI employees and later a three-member management group led by Zee Telefilms Chairman Subhash Chandra, whose Mediavest has bought majority shares in UNI.

''The Prime Minister has written to the Ministry asking it to consult the Law, Urban Development, Finance and Company Affairs Ministries and hold discussions with all the concerned parties, including the agitating UNI employees,'' Mr Dasmunsi said.

The communication from the Prime Minister followed a note sent to him by Mr Dasmunsi on the status of UNI, including the apprehensions of its employees.

Mr Dasmunsi said he would soon hold meetings with the other Ministries.

In his note, the I and B Minister pointed out that UNI was the only news agency which had services in three languages, English, Hindi and Urdu, and catered to all categories of newspapers, including medium and small dailies.

His note also dealt with the effective and important role played by UNI in disseminating information through AIR and Doordharshan, which take the agency's service, besides the government's support in the form of allotment of office premises at institutional rates since the agency was a Section 25 company.

The HRD and Communications Ministries also gave subsidy to UNI Urdu and the agency's communication network, it said.

UNI