Bangalore, Sept. 19 (PTI): Seeking abolition of the Wage Board, the Indian Newspaper Society today accused the Central government of trying to curb the freedom of speech and independence of the media.
“At a time when independent India boasts of a free and open economy, we are faced with yet another Wage Board– being the only industry in the country to have one”, INS President Hormusji N Cama said while speaking at the 68th annual general meeting of the society here.
The Wage Board has been set up despite clear acknowledgement by the National Labour Commission that Wage Boards are “archaic” and a “dinosaur from the past” in today’s fast moving economic scenario, he said while seeking its abolition.
He said the Government was seeking to curb freedom of speech and independence of the media.
“It was the Congress party 60 years ago that ushered in independence, and encouraged an independent media. I feel sad that 60 years down the line today, the Indian Government seeks novel ways to curb that very freedom of expression which released us from the shackles of imperialism”.
During the past one year, the newspaper industry faced serious threats, he said. Newsprint which was previously allowed to be freely imported by actual users, is now regulated by the Registrar of Newspapers under the guise of their new eligibility certificate.
“This certificate seeks to average out our imports for the last three years and based on that, allow us a restricted quantity for future imports. Additional imports if needed, now require bureaucratic clearances,” Cama said.
