The Registrar of Newspapers for India (RNI) has cancelled the registration of CPI(M) mouthpiece Daily Desher Katha, published from Tripura for alleged “unauthorised change of ownership.” According to the letter by the RNI to Daily Desher Katha, the registration has been cancelled on the basis of report from sub-divisional magistrate.
Earlier in August, a complaint was registered against the publication for allegedly violating the Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867. According to the report, a mismatch was found between the information of the editor, printer and publisher provided in the newspaper’s declaration and the data maintained with the RNI.
Meanwhile, condemning the cancellation, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury called it an ‘autocratic’ decision of the BJP-led Tripura government and suppression of democracy. Calling it a ‘brazen attack on freedom of press’, CPIM, in a statement, said that the DM of West Tripura has cancelled the registration on dubious and flimsy grounds.
For the first time in four decades, the newspaper did not get published on Tuesday, 2nd October. The CPI(M) will be holding a protest against this decision.