SPECIAL ISSUE

September 15, 1981: Blackmail will not work

Dear Readers:
India Tribune has strived to serve the best interests of the Indian community in Chicago and Midwest for the past five years without fear or favor of any vested interest and even at the cost of displeasure of the community at-large.
Along with the rest of the Indian community, India Tribune has adopted the great American democracy as its homeland. It subscribes fully to its cherished traditions of freedom to carry on business, healthy business practices and no quarter to cartels in any form.
In the past, India Tribune had the unflinching courage to stand alone despite a wave of popular sentiment on an issue of integrity and respect for the law of the land.
Another issue has come up to test India Tribune’s integrity, mettle and commitment to serve the community. Frankly speaking, it is a business matter concerning appliance stores on Devon Avenue. India Tribune is not a party to dispute. It is dragged into the battle arena.
In an unholy bid to snuff out East-West Appliances’ business, a gang of four businessmen at Devon Avenue has constituted itself into a kind of cartel. At a meeting of this gang on August 23 last, India Tribune was peremptorily ordered to keep out East-West Appliances from its advertisement columns or face instant withdrawal of patronage by this gang members who own appliance stores on Devon. To make the ultimatum sound dreadful, the prospect of boycott by other businesses at Devon was flashed at India Tribune.
True to its reputation as a champion of community interest, India Tribune did not buckle under the petty threat. Its reply was: India Tribune does not run on individual patronage. Do your worst!
India Tribune is more concerned with preventing the loot of thousands of dollars of its readers than at the loss of a few hundred dollars in advertisement revenue. Blacking out East West Appliances would mean that shoppers would be deprived of the benefits of bargain offers from East West Appliances. The shoppers would then be easy prey to the greedy sharks - the gang of four.
The principle involved is whether businesses can freely attract customers by offering bargain prices. Although the ethics of this issue is clear, it does not concern India Tribune.
On its part, India Tribune accepts advertisements from any party that wishes to use its columns, only keeping in mind that the language of the advertisement does not attack any rival business. The pricing of goods is not the concern of India Tribune, nor can it dictate to any party to raise or lower prices of its goods. The threat of withdrawal of patronage will not deter India Tribune from pursuing its policy of non-partisanship in matters that do not concern India Tribune.
India Tribune is proud of its ideology and commitment to the Indian community. It is grateful for the affection with which the Indian community has reciprocated and patronized the only Indian newspaper in the Midwest. This support has come from readers, regional and national organizations. India Tribune will strive to continue to earn this precious support.

Sincerely,

Prashant Shah
Editor & Publisher