'Threat to press freedom will pave way for autocracy'

Chief Minister V Narayanasamy today alleged that there has been continuing threats to the freedom of the press under NDA rule, and if these went on, it would only lead to 'autocracy in the nation'.
Expressing his condolence over the recent killing of journalistGauri Lankesh in Bengaluru, he told reporters here today that the incident deserved to be condemned in strongest terms.
"Such threats and insecurity of press freedom cannot be brooked in a democracy where the press is the fourth pillar to champion the free speech and expression".
He pointed out that the Karnataka Chief Minister had already instituted a special task force to nab the culprits involved in the killing of the journalist.

Narayanasamy said his government was encouraging industrialists from across the country and abroad to set up units here to tackle the unemployment problem in the Union Territory.
He said 26 entrepreneurs from various parts of the country had been permitted to start industries in Karaikal, an enclave of the union territory of Puducherry.

The Chief Minister said the Centre had in a recent survey assessed that the Union Territory was among six states where the atmosphere for setting up industries was congenial.
Though there was a setback in development due to demonetisation and introduction of GST by the NDA government, "Puducherry is set to emerge a largely industrialised Union Territory," he said.

Already entrepreneurs from countries like Germany, U.K., Gulf nations, France and Canada had expressed interest in starting pharmaceuticaland food processing units,industries to produce spare parts for automobiles and plastics.
He said government had also framed a policy exclusively to promote ITES (ITenabled services),which would encourage entrepreneurs by extending incentives and subsidies on various counts.
Narayanasamy claimed there was fair and transparent selection of273students by Centralised Admission Committee (CENTAC-a nodal government agency to selecte candidates) under government quota for the first MBBS course in privately managed and deemed to be universities medical colleges in 2016-17.
He said a recent circularof Medical Council of India had directed 'discharge' of all candidates admitted to the MBBS course in colleges last yearunder management quota, either without them undergoingCENTAC counselling or were admitted after the last date September 30, 2016of admission.

It was thereforean issue concerning managements of the colleges and the government was not in the picture at all. Admission under government quota took place in a transparent and fair manner", he said.