Addressing in a press conference at Daily Desher Katha office, with Chief Journalist Milan De Sarkar, Editor Samir Pal, Desher Katha's Ex-Editor Gautam Das said, "Daily Desher Kath is 40 years old popular newspaper, witnessed many Govt's rise and fall. It was first published on daily basis in 1979, 15th August. But since the first day of the BJP-IPFT Govt attempt was taken to shutdown the paper and on yesterday night DM-West forcefully, illegally stopped the paper which is a naked attack upon press freedom and also October 1st is a Black Day of newspaper history. The DM of West District acted according to political order of BJP Govt". Referring the history of Daily Desher Katha, Gautam Das said, "In 1979 the newspaper was started at the interest of common men and RNI number was also received. Earlier it was only weekly paper. On that time from "Janashiksha Cooperative Printing Works" the newspaper was being published". "In 1988 a political change came and on that time also under Congress Govt heavy attacks came upon press and in the same way hawkers, journalists were attacked". 

 

"On that time Desher Katha protested in legal way against the Govt's move. We appealed in at Guwahati High Court against stopping of advertisement and another issue was the attack upon press which was complained to Press Council of India and both the verdicts came in support of Daily Desher Katha".  

"When the office was shifted in 1988 and the newspaper office was brought in Melamath it was informed to RNI Office. The printing place was also changed from Central road to Melarmath under the same Press i.e. Janashiksha Cooperative Printing Works. Both issues were told the RNI", Das told media.

"In 1994 Daily Desher Katha switched over the press with Tripura Printers & Publishers Private Lmt. When my residence from Melarmath was changed at Ramnagar from Melarmath and it was also informed to the RNI. These are the minor changes which has no relation with registration", Gautam Das told media. 

"In 2012, the management of Daily Desher Katha was transferred to "Daily Desher Katha Society" (Registered Society) for the first time. Next, "Tripura State Committee Society" took the charge and everything was informed to DM through Affidavit. All were submitted including printers changing and we have kept the receive copies but in RNI these things were not rectified", Das told media. 

"In 2015 the publisher and printer was changed with Samir Pal. Those papers were also submitted to West District DM. DM verified all the issues but DM office didn't send to RNI office led the correction issues pending. Then in one notice to the Editor it was told that nothing was rectified"

"DM issued a letter to Samir Pal (Editor, Daily Desher Katha) on 4.7.2018 with subject of "MODIFICATION of OWNERSHIP, EDITOR, PUBLISHER, PRINTER of Daily Desher Katha", which said, "I would like to inform you that on receiving proposal of authentification of affivadid related to change of ownership and Editor, Publisher & Printer of Daily-Desher-Katha and immediately the matter was reffered to SP West on SDM Sadar on causing inquiry on contention of the prayer. During inquiry SP West has reported on 21.5.2015 and SDM Sadar has inquired the same through his field mechinary. Based on the inquiry report of the RI and the DCM on 22.4.2015 and SDM has sent proposal to the DM and Collector, West Tripura on 5.5.2015, authetication of the same. Accordingly, the then ADM and Collector Manoranjan Das had sent your application along with related pepers along with inquiry reports of SP West and SDM, on 21.5.2015 for taking necessary action. After submission of the papers, it's responsibility of the RNI to issue certificates of the newspaper under Section-6 of the Press & Registration of Books Act 1867", this a letter of present DM Sandeep Mahatme issued on 4.7.2018. Then we requested the RNI to speed up the matter and to issue the certificate. Then RNI on 16th July asked for fresh papers as there are some issues".

"There was an issue that in 2012 the society handed over the paper to CPI-M and CPI-M in 2018, Sep 1st handed-over to the Trust. Now, with all these subjects we have submitted to RNI and RNI also asked additional papers as transfer of ownership and we accordingly submitted them. RNI then updated their Website on yesterday night and sent us certificate. But on 6th Sep District Magistrate sent Samir pal (Editor, Daily Desher Katha) saying that one Shyamal Debnath on 26th May complained against Daily Desher Katha alleging that in website the Editor's name is Gautam Das, whereas in papers it's Samir Pal. A notice came on 6th Sept asking Samir Pal to produce himself for hearing on Sep 12 at DM office. After that there was another hearing shortly where the DM asked for fresh certificates and Samir Pal said that it's pending at RNI which is under process. It was delayed due to DM office's delay. On Sep 26 the next hearing.........everything was going on as if planwise. On 1st October (yesterday) it was the final hearing, but RNI already gave the RNI number. But DM did a drama ! In the court of DM office, he didn't maintain the decorum. Even though SDM authenticated the paper. DM called SDM Jayanta Dey in the court and slammed him with hitting words. In front of Samir Pal and lawyers he scolded the SDM. He also contacted RNI office asking how Desher Katha got authentication".

Editor Samir Pal alleged, in front of Daily Desher Katha team, DM asked SDM to cancel the issued certificates and said he himself will cancel the registration and the at night RNI again emailed Desher Katha Editor at night 10 pm saying "Certificate has been withdrawn as SDM has cancelled the certificates without any show cause or legal bounding.

"Such incident never happened in India that at night hours paper's registration is cancelled. Not only ths when we were waiting for the hearing, since 6 pm at night 9.30 BJP State Secretary Rajib Bhattacharjee along with few BJP activists entered the office of DM, SDM and systematically things happened. Then it was said that 2015's registration was cancelled", Gautam Das said.

Adding the newspaper has faith in High Court and Supreme Court, Gautam Das announced legal procedure at the fastest move to cancel the DM's order. 

Above 200 employees have been affected with the publication of the Daily has been stopped, said Gautam Das.