PCI ASK’S PRANNOY ROY TO EXPLAIN POSITION OF LARGE SCALE RETRENCHMENT IN NDTV

The Press Club Of India has expressed its serious concern and reservation over the process of retrenchment and massive reduction and lay off of employees working with NDTV in various capacities since long and has asked its proprietor, the veteren journalist Prannoy Roy to unambiguously explain his view point to the Press Club Of India members and the entire media fraternity.

In a letter addressed to Prannoy Roy already acknowleged by him, the president and general secretary Gautam Lahiri and Vinay Kumar has said: as this year comes to an end, there are disturbing reports emanating from the NDTV which refer to massive reduction and lay-offs of employees connected with the news operations of your organisation.

The letter adds: the Press Club of India has been in the lead role of organising protest meets whenever NDTV was targeted by the government or curbs were sought to be put on it. The PCI has led the struggle for upholding the freedom of the press and expression. There is considerable concern among journalistic community over the current reported move of your organisation which might have been taken considering economic viability of running the news channel.
It further says that the PCI would like to invite you over to the Press Club of India to address a meet and make the stance of NDTV clear so that the journalistic community can understand the logic and reason behind any such move of large scale retrenchment. As you have been forthcoming in your approach, the PCI management is sure that you would accept our invitation to address a meet at PCI which we plan to hold over the next few days.

It may be recalled that the PCI has always been in the forefront when there were attempts to scuttle media freedom and in the case of NDTV as well it hald several protest meets and demonstrations at the PCI precincts few months ago.
SUNIL NEGI, PRESIDENT, UTTARAKHAND JOURNALISTS FORUM