Will the Press Council of India take action on the complaint filed on behalf of makkal adhikaram magazine?

October 01, 2024 • Makkal Adhikaram

The makkal adhikaram Newspaper and Social Welfare Journalists Federation has been constantly insisting on giving concessions and advertisements to social welfare newspapers. The news has been brought to the attention of the media officials of the central and state governments for more than five years, but no one has asked for any explanation about it.

On behalf of the Tamil Nadu Social Welfare Journalists Association, our senior Madras High Court advocate Muthusamy sent a legal notice in this regard to the senior officials of the Central and State Information Department and the Press Council of India. The Press Council of India has asked for all the information of my makkal adhikaram magazine and my ID proof. Everything has been sent by registered post through our senior Madras High Court advocate Muthusamy.

Apart from this, online news related to this has been sent to the Press Council of India through the e-mail address of makkal adhikaram Magazine. What action is the Press Council of India going to take now? The future of social welfare journalists and the press depends on that.

Moreover, there can be no growth and future for the social welfare press without changing the DIPR and DAVP Acts in the Information Department of the Central and State Governments. This is a law against social justice. These laws are applicable only to corporate entities. That means circulation is a false law. The party magazine is also in circulation. Which magazine should be given importance in it? Not only that, these offers and advertisements are a policy decision of the central and state governments. These are all the tragedies of press freedom.

Also, a huge scam in the news industry is going on through these advertisements. It is being given through this government’s advertisement agency. It is reported that 30 per cent of the commission in these advertisements goes from officials to ministers. This must be stopped immediately. The agency will give government advertisement to the newspaper to which the director of the news department tells it. Why not give it directly?

All these Information Acts of the Central and State Governments are hindering the growth of journalism. Moreover, only those who work in corporate journalism are members of the Tamil Nadu Journalists Welfare Board. That is, only those who have a government identity card can become a member. On what merit is it given? The Press Council of India should examine this.

Moreover, Stalin knew nothing about it. Somehow, he became the Chief Minister by blind luck. Because of this, we are all suffering at the hands of these lucky people. Therefore, the main demand on behalf of the Federation of Social Welfare Journalists and makkal adhikaram is that the Press Council of India should take up the main task of correcting this.