Ethics and Freedom

HYDERABAD, AUGUST 21: Indicating that he did not share Andhra CM Y S R Reddy’s view that the media should have no interaction with banned Maoist organisations, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said today that any political group can use the media to convey its views. Stressing that a ‘‘free press is the ultimate check’’ against the ‘‘tyranny’’ of authority, Singh said the media is ‘‘like a mirror’’...

As Indians, we should feel proud of our vast, varied and vibrant media. This is a national asset and a pillar of strength for our democracy which has been made richer by the plurality of our free press. In a diverse nation of a billion people, there are bound to be differences in taste and opinion. Differences in attitude and ideology. Differences in linguistic and political preferences. The...

NEW DELHI, August 19: Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee has ruled that English daily The Pioneer had perpetrated a breach of privilege by publishing a "grossly libellous" article but rejected the privilege motion saying it would be beneath the dignity of the House to take further note of motivated imputations. "I believe that the disapproval by large sections of this Honorable House, of the...

Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee on Thursday did not accept the privilege motion against The Pioneer but strongly criticised the article in question and ruled that "gross breach of privilege had been committed". He warned that in future reckless and contumacious (obstinately disobedient or rebellious) conduct indulged in by who-so-ever may be will be dealt with in the appropriate manner...

New Delhi: Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee Thursday rejected a motion of privilege against the writer and editor of a newspaper that had published an article criticising him, but expressed his strong condemnation and pointed to "reasonable restrictions" in freedom of the press. "In view of the condemnation on the floor of the house and as it will be beneath the dignity of this great...

NEW DELHI, AUGUST 18: Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee today ruled that the article against him in the Pioneer newspaper constituted ‘‘ a gross breach of privilege of the Speaker and also of the House’’ but decided against accepting a privilege motion against the publication because it was ‘‘beneath the dignity’’ of the House. In a lengthy ruling on the privilege notices given by Ramji Lal...

New Delhi, August 18: Speaker of the Lower House of the Indian Parliament, Somnath Chatterjee, on Thursday rejected moving a privilege notice against the "Pioneer" newspaper for publishing a news item levelling charges against him. Chatterjee said that handing out a privilege notice would be beneath the dignity of Parliament, and added that taking further note of the "motivated imputations in the...

NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee on Thursday rejected a privilege motion against the writer and editor of a newspaper that had published an article criticising him, but chose to express his strong condemnation and stressed the need for ‘reasonable restrictions' on of the freedom of the press. "In view of the condemnation on the floor of the House and as it will be beneath the...

Judith Miller of the New York Times first came to my attention through her book - God has ninety nine names. I did not like it. In it she displayed her pro-Israeli, pro-Phalangist (a fascist Lebanese organization) bias against the uprooted Palestinians. She disregarded facts, and preferred quoting endless talks to justify the marauding activities of the Israeli apartheid government and the U.S...

Thursday, August 18, 2005 (Hyderabad): Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Rajasekhara Reddy wants to make media encounters with Naxals a thing of the past. Irked by the fourth estate providing a platform to those wanted by the police, Reddy has given a stern warning to journalists. The Chief Minister says that cases could be slapped on scribes for publishing or broadcasting such interviews. "Suppose a...