Ex-PM too opposes FDI in print media

new delhi: as the debate over allowing foreign direct investment in print media has resurfaced once again, the move has come in for sharp criticism from various quarters with several former prime ministers urging the government to tread cautiously in this matter. coming out strongly against this proposal, former prime minister i k gujral said the government needs to move extremely carefully in this matter as the print media is not like any other trade or industry.according to him, it is a strong medium which plays a leading role in fashioning public opinion. "and in a democracy, the credentials of opinion makers are very important," he said. speaking in the same tone, former pm v p singh maintained that this is just not the right time to allow foreign investments in print media, especially since the "country is in a fluid situation, socially, politically and economically." another former pm, h d deve gowda is also similarly opposed to any move to reverse the present policy, stating that the janata dal (s) had passed a resolution at its last national executive meeting opposing foreign investments in print media. "this will not just impact adversely on the national security but will undermine the political system itself," he said. the cpm on saturday also came out against the entry of foreign print media into the country and charged that the government was paving the way for it by proposing to allow non- news foreign technical journals. not just the cpm but other opposition parties, including the congress, have opposed this move and accused the nda of attempting to go back on the 1955 cabinet resolution against allowing foreign equity in news and current affairs. the entire issue has been referred to the parliamentary standing committee. the government recently proposed that foreign investment be allowed for non-news technical and medical journals but has decided to await the standing committee's report before taking any final decision.