Withdraw Anti-Democratic Position -- Geelani Case

Date: 
Wednesday, January 8, 2003

Press Statement

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement:

Withdraw Anti-Democratic Position

The stand taken by the Home Ministry that possession of information contained in a published document can be considered as prejudicial to the security of the country is strongly objectionable. The Home Ministry has adopted this stand in the case registered under the Official Secrets Act against Iftikhar Gilani, a journalist. Eventhough the Directorate of Military Intelligence has stated that the document in the possession of Gilani had no security classification and was gathered from open sources, 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 is arming the Home Ministry with unwarranted powers. The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) demands that the government immediately withdraw this position.