CPI(M) mouthpiece: Editors Guild demands revocation of RNI order

The Editors Guild of India on Wednesday demanded the revocation of an order by the Registrar of Newspapers for India cancelling the registration of 'Daily Desher Katha', a mouthpiece of the CPI-M in Tripura, and a probe into whether the decision was politically motivated.

In a letter on Monday, the Registrar of Newspapers in India (RNI) said the publication was being suspended based on a verdict passed by the district magistrate of West Tripura, Sandeep Mahatme.

It cited "unauthorised change of ownership" as the reason for the cancellation of the Bengali daily's registration.

The Editors Guild of India, in a statement, said it condemns the decision of the RNI to cancel the registration of 'Daily Desher Katha', which is published from Agartala.

"The Guild is of the view that cancellation of the registration of a publication on the mere finding that there was a mismatch between the information of the editor, printer and publisher is not only a gross overreaction but also a draconian step that throttles freedom of the media," the statement said.

The Guild, an umbrella body of media organisations, demanded immediate revocation of the order, pending further inquiry into the charges of misinformation.

It also demanded that a thorough inquiry is instituted by the government to investigate whether the decision was politically motivated.