Left parties, RJD, BSP to raise UNI issue in Parliament

New Delhi, Dec 4 (UNI) CPM leader Sitaram Yechury today said the Left parties, along with the RJD and the BSP, would raise the issue of the sale of a majority stake in United News of India (UNI)to a media house in the current session of Parliament.

RJD Deputy leader Devendra Prasad Yadav said the "monopoly" of a single media house could not be allowed in the news agency.

BSP leader Brijesh Pathak said he had already sent a letter of protest against the sale to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Mr Yechury said at a press conference that his party had already started seeking support of other secular parties and they would raise the issue collectively next week.

Mr Yadav, referring to his discussion with Mr Yechury this morning, said the Left parties and all other like-minded parties had decided to join hands on the issue.

He said the sale was an offshoot of ''the onslaught of globalisation and privatisation that had taken place in the country during the last 15 years. You will see more dangerous things in the future, and the only way to resist the obnoxious trend is to join hands; be it farmers, the unorganised workers, the displaced people or the affected mediapersons," Mr Yadav added.

UNI KSA RP PM1736