National Herald to resume publication

The extraordinary general meeting (EGM) of the Associated Journals Ltd, the publishers of the now defunct National Herald, Navjivan and Quami Awaz newspapers, here on Thursday decided to re-launch the three dailies.

They also granted approval to convert the company into a not-for-profit organization. This move is being seen as an attempt to wriggle out of the controversies and win support of the agitating former employees.

AJL chairman and managing director Motilal Vora said after the meeting that the resolutions for re-launching of the three dailies and converting the company into a not for profit organizations were adopted at Thursday’s EGM.

“The members considered and approved a number of resolutions to convert AJL into a not-for-profit company. These decisions of the members of the company are in pursuance to the revival plan of the company since 2010 which includes conversion of the company to not-for-profit, and relaunching the newspapers'', said a statement by AJL. Senior Congress leaders Sheila Dixit, Jitin Prasada and Oscar Fernandes were present at the meeting.

 While the EGM was on, the former employees of the three newspapers staged a noisy demonstration outside the venue of the meeting.

Some other people, who claimed to be in the possession of the shares of the company, were also there and alleged that they were not allowed to attend the meeting.

The former employees, who had embarked upon a relay hunger strike, had threatened to obstruct the EGM also. They were, however, persuaded to call off their agitation by senior UP Congress leaders, who assured them that their demands would be considered.
 
A few others, who had arrived at the venue, alleged that they were shareholders of AJL but were denied entry into the meeting.

The former employees said that the AJL management’s decision to consider re-launching of the newspapers was aimed at buying peace as well as to wriggle out of the legal battle.

The former employees of the Lucknow edition of the papers have been demanding payment by the same formula that was applied in payment to their counterpart in Delhi which was promised by the management at the time of final payment to them in January 1999.