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Unions threaten strong agitation against FDI in print media

Opposing foreign direct investment in print media, major newspaper and news agency federations on Monday warned the government of a 'strong agitation' in the Press if it went ahead with implementing the decision.

Rejecting Information and Broadcasting Minister Sushma Swaraj's claim that FDI would be allowed only under stringent conditions to protect national interests, the All India Newspaper Employees' Federation said it was 'regrettable' that the government did not roll back the decision despite opposition to it from MPs cutting across party lines in Parliament.

"It is difficult to believe that when Government does not have political will to enforce regulations on domestic publishers, it will have the guts to enforce these regulations

on foreign investors," a federation statement said.

It alleged that the government had failed over the last several years to ensure implementation of even existing laws to defend the rights of Working Journalists Act and existing laws and regulations under the Registration of Newspapers Act like appointment of editors.

Expressing apprehensions that foreign investors will have many ways to enforce their will on Indian editors so long as the newspapers depend heavily on their investments, the unions said a network of financial and political interests led by foreign interests would severely disable the freedom of press.

It also feared the decision would pose further threat to small and medium newspapers and cause unemployment. The Unions would jointly prepare a document on the issue for a country-wide awareness campaign and action, the statement said.

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