Independent media regulatory authority needed, says Prasant Bhushan

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The country needed an independent and empowered regulatory authority for the media sector to check unhealthy tendencies of sensationalism and inaccurate reporting, senior lawyer and social activist Prasant Bhushan said here on Sunday.  


"Self-regulation will not work in media, as is the case in any other profession. An agency independent of the government, capable of taking action against erring media should be formed," he said inaugurating a seminar on 'role of media in combating corruption' organised in connection with the centenary celebrations of 'Kerala Kaumudi' Malayalam daily.


Bhushan said the Press Council of India did not enjoy any "serious authority" to take action against abuse of authority by media houses. The government was appointing at the helm of the Council persons who could be used to muscle the media, the Team Anna member charged.


He said the tendency of large corporates buying the shares of media institutions also posed a threat to balanced reporting on corruption in the country.


Commending the useful role of the media in initiating a debate on corruption especially in recent times, he said media houses should employ honest, matured persons for investigative reporting and ensure dissemination of all factual information to the public.


He said corruption had turned out to be one of the main engines driving the policies of people in power and corrupt mafia of corporates threatened democracy. "Corruption induces government to adopt anti-people policies," he said.


Corrupt corporates having mining leases were plundering the natural resources and displacing tribals and other backward people from their environs denying them livelihood.


"While the mining mafia grows, the human development index of the country is coming down," he said.

Selvaraj to get 35,000 votes if contested as UDF candidate

KOCHI: The UDF will surely win if Selvaraj contests in Neyyatinkara bypolls, said government chief whip P C George. There is no doubt that he will win by nearly 35,000 votes.  The candidate in Neyyatinkara will be decided by congress high command Sonia Gandhi, he said.

Muraleedharan opposes fifth ministerial post

KOZHIKODE: K Muraleedharan, MLA and son of veteran leader K Karunakaran, Sunday opposed the Muslim League’s demand of the fifth ministerial post. He said that he does not agree with the fixation of ministers according to the number of MLAs. Murali said this when some in the congress are against the fifth ministerial post.


The manner in which ministers are fixed as per the no of MLAs does not exist in the UDF. When there were 45 MLAs in the congress, there were only ten ministers including the chief minister. When there were 60 MLAs, only 10 ministers were there. Unfortunately, there are only 38 MLAs this time, he said.


Delaying the swearing in of Anoop Jacob is like cheating the voters of Piravom.

Achuthanandan opposes fifth cabinet berth to IUML

Sunday, April 1, 2012 : Kerala’s communal structures would be affected if Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), the second largest component of the ruling UDF, was given a fifth ministerial berth in the Kerala cabinet, Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly V S Achuthanandan today said.
Speaking to mediapersons here, the CPI-M veteran said ‘If the demand of IUML for a fifth minister in the UDF Ministry was acceded, it will affect Kerala’s communal strucutres’.
IUML had been pressing for the fifth ministerial post ever since the UDF government assumed office last year.

George justifies IUML’s fifth cabinet berth demand

Sunday, April 1, 2012: The Kerala government Chief Whip P C George today justified Indian Union Muslim League’s (IUML) demand for an additional ministerial berth stating that the community had played a major role in the victory of Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) in the last Assembly poll in the State.
Talking to reporters here, he said they deserved seven ministers instead of the present four while considering their strength, 20-members, in the State Assembly.
Flaying the Communist Party of India (Marxist) for its remarks against religious/caste composition in the Oommen Chandy cabinet, he said it was the prerogative of the Chief Minister Minister and UDF to decide on the issue.
The CPI (M), which stood for people’s democracy, had become a corporate entity if the statement of veteran leader V S Achuthanandan that ‘bureaucrats in Delhi would decide his re-induction into the Politburo’ was any indication, he alleged.

Kerala Congress (Mani) firm on RS seat demand

 Sunday, April 01, 2012: The Kerala Congress (Mani) would remain firm on its claim for a seat in the Rajya Sabha elections which is coming up next month, said party leader K M Mani. Talking to reporters here, he said the Rajya Sabha seat deserved for the party should have been given earlier.
Mani said the KC (M) is not against demand of the Muslim League for the fifth ministerial post. One cannot say whether League’s demand is reasonable or unreasonable. The Congress may need some more time to take the final decision. Hope an amicable solution will be taken.