Ban on English dailies widespread criticise

West Bengal chief minister decision to ban all dailies except eight vernacular newspapers in the state-funded libraries has drawn widespread criticism. Even those people are criticising the govt. move that once were close to C.M. Many scholar and educationalist have criticises the move.

The dailies which have been banned consists of from the state-funded libraries are the largest circulated Bengali daily Ananda Bazar Patrika, Bengali dailies Bartamaan and Aajkaal, and leading English newspapers The Telegraph, The Times of India, The Statesman and Hindustan Times.

Educationist Sunando Sanyal says that the order is totally against democracy and the rule of law and at the same time it is laughable to say the least. Now the government will decide what one should read and what not… dailies, which are well known and have high circulation are off the list… don't know what next they will come up with. It is noted that Sanyal is the person who were once close to C.M. and was head of the West Bengal Syllabus Committee for a few months after she came to power last year.

Describing the whole episode as a unpardonable offence, Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader Anisur Rahman said that party have protested in the state assembly against the order.

Congress, which is a coalition party in the state, has also criticised the govt. moves. Pradip Bhattacharya, State Congress president said that the government couldn't decide what the people will read and what not. It is an intrusion on the freedom of reading. Congress will protest this move. (With inputs from IANS)