Early Times Report
Jammu, May 7: The Early Times has been facing the onslaught of the successive regimes since its inception as your newspaper has always sided with the truth and has promoted bold journalism.
Whosoever has come into power in Jammu and Kashmir during all these years has tried to muzzle the Early Times by resorting to different tactics.
From 2008 to 2014 the erstwhile NC-Congress regime made all the possible attempts to close down the Early Times. FIRs were lodged editors and staff members were harassed and all the possible steps were taken to silence the Early Times once for all. Despite facing all the odds your newspaper did not succumb and ensured that facts are not suppressed and truth doesn't become causality.
The present PDP-BJP regime is no different from its predecessor. Since the day both these parties have come into power their attitude has been the same. From day one the present regime has tried to control your news paper.
The erstwhile NC-Congress regime stopped the government advertisements for nearly 14-months. It was only after the intervention of the Press Council of India the government advertisements were released but just for the name sake.
The present regime has followed the footsteps of its predecessor. The advertisements have not been blocked but these are being just sent to keep the records straight.
The state run Information department just sends 15 to 75 cms. Early Times is a 12-page coloured newspaper having its own office and press in heart of the Jammu city. It has provided employment to people across Jammu and Kashmir. The government seems least bothered about the role your newspaper is playing. It seems that only aim of t In Kathua case it has not been proved yet whether accused are guilty or not but the people who have been harassing Early Times are known to all. Should they not be punished for tormenting the ET management?
It's unfortunate that press in Jammu and Kashmir has not been free and freedom of the press has always been curtailed. People who have ruled the state have always tried to ensure that newspapers just write goody-goody things about them and refrain from highlighting the issues which highlight their shortcomings.
People at the helm are claiming that they believe in fast delivery of the justice. Lot of hue and cry is being raised over taking stern action against the accused in Kathua case. Recently J&K government had said that fast track court should be set up for expediting the trial in the case.
Someone needs to ask the same people who are at the helm are they not doing injustice with Early Times? Have they ever paid any heed towards the repeated pleas and requests of the ET management? This government should stop bragging about justice and being transparent.
The questions being raised over the probe conducted by the Crime Branch into the Kathua case and government not paying any heed towards the requests of the people to handover the case to CBI is an ample proof of the fact that people at the top just believe in enforcing their writ especially in Jammu. On the other hand the same government is leaving no stone unturned to pamper the separatists and the anti-national elements.
In Kathua case it has not been proved yet whether accused are guilty or not but the people who have been harassing Early Times are known to all. Should they not be punished for tormenting the ET management? | 