People's Democracy

THE Delhi Union of Journalists (DUJ) has condemned the Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance (POTO) as a new draconian "Gag The Press Bill," that seeks to bring the "era of press censorship and Emergency through the back door." The ordinance is, however, aimed to ultimately throttle not only press freedom but democratic dissent at large, the statement issued on November 7 by DUJ president S K Pande and general secretary Javed Faridi said.

The DUJ discussed the provisions of the POTO at an emergency meeting of its executive. This was to be followed by a joint meeting with the Press Club of India on October 10 on the theme "POTO, Journalism and the War," in which eminent jurists and journalists of both the print and electronic media will participate.

This is likely to be followed by a broader public meeting by the DUJ and its fraternal bodies, the DUJ statement added.