Date:09/01/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/01/09/stories/2003010903381100.htm

National

Gilani case: CPI(M) assails Ministry's stand

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI JAN. 8. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has objected to the Union Home Ministry's stand that possession of information contained in a published document can be considered prejudicial to the security of the country.

The CPI(M) politburo reaction came in response to the stand adopted by the Ministry in the Official Secrets Act case registered against journalist Iftikhar Gilani as opposed to the Directorate of Military Intelligence which said the document in his possession had no security classification and was gathered from open sources.

In a statement today, it said: "The Home Ministry has taken the position that the information continues to be prejudicial to the safety and security of the country. This interpretation of published material by the Home Ministry is against the democratic rights of citizens and can be used against the media".

Instead of accepting the untenability of its case, the Government was arming the Home Ministry with unwarranted powers, it said, and demanded that the Government immediately withdraw this position.