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Newsprint hold-up a mistake: Indian media
NEW DELHI, JUN 24 -
The Indian media have reacted strongly to the hold-up of newsprint imported by Kantipur Publications in Kolkata.
“Two of Nepal’s most respected newspapers, Kantipur and The Kathmandu Post, may have to suspend publication soon if customs authorities in Kolkata refuse to release the newsprint, which has been held back for ‘investigation’,” the Hindu newspaper said on Thursday.
“In Kathmandu, the unprecedented stoppage of newsprint is being seen as an attempt to pressure the two newspapers — Kantipur and the Post — to adopt a more favourable attitude to the Madhav Kumar Nepal government, which India is backing against the Maoists. Along with the delay in clearing newsprint supplies, the fact that major Indian companies have stopped advertising in both newspapers is also being seen as evidence of pressure tactics,” the Hindu wrote. Talking to the Hindu, the Indian foreign ministry in New Delhi denied any knowledge of the delay in customs clearance. “We are not aware of this,” a senior unnamed official was quoted by the newspaper as saying. “We don’t indulge in such cheap tactics.”
Another South Block official acknowledged that he was unhappy with the stance of the two newspapers, the Hindu added.
Prominent Indian journalists have said the hold-up is a “mistake” and that the Indian government should explain the incident. “It is not correct for the customs to delay the newsprint shipment,” said Siddharth Varadarajan, the Strategic Affairs editor of the Hindu. “If in fact, it is delayed because the Indian government is unhappy with the papers; it is an attack on press freedom. The Indian government should give an explanation on this.”
Equating the hold-up of the newsprint to violation of freedom of expression, Parvej Ahmed, president of Press Club of India told the Post there are legitimate ways in journalism to express unhappiness over newspaper coverage. “This is wrong,” Ahmed said, disappointed by the Indian response. “If one disagrees with the coverage they should approach the newspaper with a rejoinder. Newspapers can’t be threatened with closure in a democracy,” he added.
Another prominent journalist Vinod Sharma said “gagging a newspaper is not a good way to promote democracy in Nepal.” “Instead of gagging Kantipur, it would be better to let the newspaper itself give space to the other side. Kantipur has an obligation to its readers to provide views from both sides,” Sharma, who is the political editor of the Hindustan Times, told the Post.
Posted on: 2010-06-25 07:40
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