The Hindu : National : Investigate UNI stake sale scam: Brinda Karat

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Thursday, Oct 05, 2006
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Investigate UNI stake sale scam: Brinda Karat

UNI employees seek CBI enquiry into the deal

New Delhi: CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Brinda Karat on Wednesday asked the Government to order an inquiry into the "big scam" relating to the sale of UNI shares to Zee Telefilms Chairman Subash Chandra.

"The Government should inquire into the major scam to bring out the truth and take action against those who violated the law to change the character of the news agency," Ms. Karat said while addressing UNI employees on the lawns of its headquarters here.

Pointing out that UNI was registered under Section 25 of the Companies Act, the Left leader said this enabled the agency to disseminate impartial news, particularly to small and medium newspapers across the country in English, Hindu and Urdu.

As such, no single media group should be allowed to have a controlling stake in UNI, she said and asserted that the present takeover bid was being done to usurp the agency's prime property at 9 Rafi Marg which had a market value running into hundreds of crores of rupees.

Ms. Karat said her party and its Left allies were against the takeover of UNI by a single media group and would fight shoulder-to-shoulder with UNI employees to preserve the independent character of the agency as it was vital for a vibrant democracy and a free press.

A five-member delegation of UNI employees, meanwhile, called on CPI general secretary A.B. Bardhan and submitted a memorandum seeking a CBI inquiry into the UNI deal. — UNI

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