The Union Government was contemplating allowing foreign newspapers to publish facsimile editions in India without access to Indian news content and advertisements, Information and Broadcasting Minister S. Jaipal Reddy said here on Sunday.
Speaking to reporters after attending a symposium on "Performance and challenges – one year of UPA Government" organised by the Alam Khundmiri Foundation, the Minister said the Cabinet would take a decision after consulting the Left parties.
Earlier addressing the symposium, Mr. Reddy referred to the reservations expressed by the CPI MP, S. Sudhakar Reddy, on allowing FDI in print media and said no major changes had been made. The existing cap of 26 per cent in the print media and news channels and 20 per cent in FM radio and DTH would continue.
Stating that a year was too short a period for stocktaking, the Minister, however, listed the "achievements" of the UPA Government. Among these were the strengthening of democratic rights with the repeal of POTA and the passage of the Right to Information Bill, the importance given to the agriculture and rural sector, improving the economic situation and fortifying the secular fabric of the nation.
Paying compliments to the Left, particularly the CPI (M) for the support extended to the UPA Government for protecting democracy, he promised that the UPA would not deviate from the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) or take any decision without consulting the Left parties.
There was no communal tension in the last one year and the country had witnessed a "secular revolution." Criticising BJP president L.K. Advani for trying to appear secular, Mr. Reddy said the BJP was a "slave" of the RSS and had no future.
CPI (M) Polit Bureau member B.V. Raghavulu said the Left had supported the UPA Government to prevent communal forces from coming to power. However, it had no illusions about the neo-liberal agenda being pursued by the Centre. The Government was reluctant to implement the measures it had promised to help the poor while showing enthusiasm in helping foreign and indigenous business interests. The Left support would continue as long as the UPA Government implemented the CMP.
CPI leader and MP, S. Sudhakar Reddy, said the UPA Government had by and large tried to implement the promises made in the CMP. The budget was not in favour of the rich. Though the Left was unhappy and had differences on economic policy, he said there was no question of withdrawing support.
However, the support of the Left could not be taken for granted. He urged the Government to re-assess some of the policies and go beyond the CMP in tackling poverty, unemployment and introducing land reforms.
Javed Alam of the Foundation said the 2004 mandate was a triumph of secular forces and gave a chance to re-establish the pluralistic equilibrium.
