Letters: Hard pressed

This refers to Sunanda K Datta-Ray's column, "'Gifted' journalists" (Where Money Talks, February 8). The practice of journalists getting official patronage is common in India and other nations as well. Those interacting with the government were not provided accommodation in a journalists' colony, instead they were given separate flats. Journalists getting gift vouchers during the stock market boom was also a common practice. Today, political journalists should disclose which parties they are aligned with. How many newspapers and television channels have a moral code of conduct for journalists on their websites? However, no one can dispute the statement made by Jawarharlal Nehru, saying that he "would rather have a completely free press... than a suppressed or regulated press". We need an amendment in our Constitution that would make the freedom of expression an absolute right, and do away with defamation laws.

Deendayal M Lulla Mumbai

Letters can be mailed, faxed or e-mailed to:
The Editor, Business Standard
Nehru House, 4 Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg
New Delhi 110 002
Fax: (011) 23720201
E-mail: letters@bsmail.in
All letters must have a postal address and telephone number