Scribes condemn Andaman administration's move to curb media

Port Blair, Dec 23 (UNI) The Andaman and Nicobar Islands media fraternity today condemend the administration's alleged attempts to curb the freedom of the press.

A meeting, attended by members of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Press Club, Port Blair Press Club and other journalists, held here, unanimously resolved to defend its privileged liberties and alleged that the administration was trying to suppress the freedom of the press.

''Following the publication of a certain news article in a local daily, the Information and Publicity division of the Andaman and Nicobar administration has stopped sponsoring the newspaper. We condemn the move,'' Andaman and Nicobar Islands Press Club president M A Salim told UNI.

He also alleged that the administration wanted to take ''punitive and suppressive'' action against the newspaper.

Meanwhile, the meeting decided to launch an agitation only after the visit of President Pratibha Patil as a mark of respect to the country's first citizen.

UNI