Hyderabad/New Delhi: The Indian Journalists’ Union (IJU), the largest and most representative organization of working journalists in the country, has strongly condemned withholding of State government advertisements to two English dailies, “Greater Kashmir” and “Kashmir Reader” based in Srinagar, by the J&K Government, presently administered by Governor Satya Pal Malik since the middle of last month.
In a statement here on Monday, IJU president and Press Council member Amar Devulapalli and Secretary-General Sabina Inderjit said denial of advertisements to “Greater Kashmir” and “Kashmir Reader” intended to arm-twisting to toe the line of the administration and amounted to attack on the freedom of the press. They noted that the Kashmir media was working under trying circumstances under constant pressure from the State and non-State actors.
“The action of the J&K Government under Governor rule goes contrary to the recommendations of the sub-committee on Kashmir of the Press Council of India (PCI) which said the advertisements should not be withheld to any newspaper on the grounds of objectionable reportage until it was considered by the Press Council of India and gave its opinion. The J&K government, which accepted the decision of the PCI, should have referred the reports it considered untrue to the PCI and awaited its decision before stopping advertisements,” the IJU statement said.
Amar and Sabina Inderjit demanded that the Press Council of India Chairman Justice C K Prasad immediately intervene and order restoration of advertisement to Greater Kashmir and Kashmir Reader immediately. (NSS)