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| Media siege, Blackest day in democratic history of JK | | |
Early Times Reporter
Jammu | Aug 3
As the situation continues to be volatile on the tenth day with the people defying curfew at many places in Jammu and its adjoining areas to register their protest, government today banned the local electronic media from performing their duties barely after some hours it had prohibited the free movement of media personalities across Jammu in order to conceal the truth from getting disseminated Was widely condemned by various organizations, parties and leaders.
In an emergency meeting of Bar Association Jammu was held today under the Chairmanship of Sh. B.S. Salathia, President Bar Association, Jammu, in which it was unanimously resolved to support the Bandh Call given by Shri Amarnath Sangarsh Samiti up to 8th of August.
The Bar Association Jammu strongly condemned the attack on the freedom of Press and in particular prohibiting the transmission of JK Channel and Take One Network. The Bar Association termed it as attack on the freedom of speech and ex-pression, which is a constitutional guarantee and a fundamental right envisaged by the Constitution. Mr. Salathia also condemned the attack on a veteran journalist Mr. Ashwani Kumar by the Police during the discharge of his professional duties.
The Bar Association Jammu has constituted a Committee of legal experts to examine the legality of the Orders issued by the District Magistrate Jammu thereby prohibiting the transmission of programme and news by JK Channel and Take One Channel and assured the Media persons to provide the free legal service by challenging the illegal and unconstitutional Orders by the District Magistrate Jammu with a view to curb the ongoing agitation and to please the Kashmir centric mind set.
The Bar Association Jammu did not appreciate the decision of anti-people administration in imposing uncalled for curfew in the Jammu region. The Bar Association Jammu reliably learnt that the curfew has been imposed and for its implementation the Army has been called in order to ensure the supply of goods and essential commodities to Kashmir Valley which has been blocked by the people of Jammu at different places on the call given by Shri Amarnath Sangarsh Samiti.
The Bar Association Jammu did not appreciate the provocative press conference given by Divisional Commissioner Jammu thereby informing that there were 500 stranded Trucks which have been cleared to reach different destinations in the Kashmir Valley with the help of Indian Army.
The Bar Association Jammu also did not appreciate unwarranted decision of the administration in deploying Indian Army in different cities of Jammu region in order to strictly enforce the curfew restrictions and confining the innocent peoples in their respective homes besides not allowing them to demonstrate their injured feelings in a peaceful and democratic manner in total violation of constitutional rights.
The Bar Association also did not appreciate the decision of administration to provide protection and escort Kashmir Centric leaders to the venue of meeting at Raj Bhawan who were held hostage by agitating mob at airport for about 3 hours. This act of administration has further aggravated the injured feeling of people of Jammu and added fuel to the fire - leading to the present situation.
The Bar Association Jammu humbly reiterated its appeal to all peace loving citizens of Jammu to maintain traditional communal harmony so that the enemies of this agitation do not get any opportunity to brand the agitation of Jammu leading towards communal divide.The Bar Association Jammu is of the view that the inefficient holding of ongoing agitation by the administration speaks of their immaturity and lack of vision and wisdom in public dealing. This approach of the administration has further given boost to the agitation and encouraged the people of Jammu to ventilate their feelings by defying the curfew restrictions.
The Bar Association Jammu reiterated its appeal to all Govt./ Semi-Govt and Public
Sector employees to proceed on mass casual leave on 4th of August, 2008.
All Jammu Newspapers’ Editors Association (AJNEA) has condemned highly repressive step to fourth estate of India during the ongoing agitation in Jammu. The association has condemned the manhandling of media person including senior journalist and bureau head Zee News Jammu Raju Kerni here today by security forces.
Taking strong exception of the targeting of the media persons, the S Ravinder Singh president of association stated that this is not the first instance that can be ignored but security forces repeatedly with an objective had targeted the media persons now and then during this ongoing agitation while performing their professional duties. Citing examples the president AJNEA stated that earlier Dheeraj Sethi and Ankur Sethi both cameramen working with JK Channel and Amar Ujjala respectively were beaten by police on night of July 24. ‘And today the security forces gave the vent to their ire against the media for bringing their atrocities upon the innocent people by bashing Rajinder Kumar and Ram Kumar from Take One Channel early this morning and then manhandling the senior journalist Raju Kerni of Zee News, members regretted. It is reported that first the Police personals at Gujjarnagar misbehaved with driver of the Senior Journalist and then started thrashing him when senior journalist Raju Kerni came to rescue his driver the security personals also manhandled him.
AJNEA executive members also have extended their support to the protesting journalists who staged a protest dharna against restrictions imposed on their movement and barring them from their duties.
In a joint statement issued here today the President of the association, Ravinder Singh and others stated that such extreme tyrannical measures adopted by present dispensation against the media men need to be condemned by all sections of society. ‘It seems the security forces want the people to memorize the repression let loose by the British Raj against the freedom fighters before 1947, they added.
Roots In Kashmir a front line organisation of Kashmiri Pandits has strongly crticized the Government's action on the non-violent protesters in Jammu. The Government also came in for strong criticism for their manhandling of media persons and attacking them with tear gas shells in Jammu.
They further warned the Government; all repressive measures will be strongly met by non-violent protests. The wave will not be stemmed by anti-national elements like N.N. Vohra and co-conspirators like Mehbooba Mufti, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Yasin Malik, Mirwaiz Farooq and Omar Abdullah.
Jammu State Morcha (P) strongly condemns the repressive methods & brutal suppression of the constitutional rights of the people of Jammu of curtailing their access to free Press & Media being adopted by N.N. Vohra the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir. It also condemns the effort of curtailing the Freedom of Press by muzzling the Media & taking over of the Local Cable TV Channels & not allowing them to air the on going agitation against the transfer of the SASB Land & other national channels alongwith imposing Censorship against the Newspapers. This has deprived lakhs of the subscribers of these channels from viewing all the national channels including entertainment, sports & news channels.
. Jammu State Morcha (P) also questions the motives of N. N. Vohra who does not take any action against the parochial, separatist, anti-national and falsely news & biased announcements being printed in the local print media of Kashmir Valley but has imposed a censorship against the print media of Jammu. It does seem that there is a sinister design of creating a communal wedge in these actions of the J&K Govt. Shri Amarnath Sangarsh Samiti is the apex body heading this agitation & Jammu State Morcha (P) fully endorses & extends its wholehearted support to the Samiti & wants all Jammuities to also do the same.
Meanwhile , Congress leaders RS Chib, Raman Bhalla , Yogesh sawhney and Madan Lal Sharma on their visit to Govt. Medical College to enquire about the condition of senior Correspondent of AAJ TAK News Channel, Ashwani Kumar condemned the attack on media by the administration. They further stated that many such instances have taken place in the recent past where media persons assaulted.
The Delhi unit of RK Bharati Foundation in a statement issued today has too condemned the brutal attack of Jammu police on journalists today in Jammu in which number of media people got injured while performing professional duties.
In a statement Sr.member of the foundation and a free lance journalist Rockey Pandita said, that the attack on journalists is the attack on freedom of press.
He condemned the snatching of curfew pass and manhandling of chairman of RKB foundation, King.C.Bharti, who is also the Editor of English daily 'The shadow' Jammu , by army officer in early morning today in Jammu. In a statement issued Pandita said that the journalists in Jammu are working like brave soldiers and have always upheld the nationalist cause like the martyr Ashok Sodhi but it was the administration that has been trying the crush them every now and then.
National Conference too has taken serious exception to the banning of electronic media especially Jammu based channels – Take 1 Channel & JK Channel.
National Conference leaders in a joint statement issued here today said National Conference is committed to freedom of press and any action of the Government to curb the freedom of press is highly condemnable. This action gives rise to the rumor mongering which creates atmosphere of disinformation and in the prevailing situation rumor mongering and disinformation can further aggravate the situation.
They further said that by banning these channels even National Channels have been stopped functioning in Jammu and not to talk of local situation it is not even possible to see happening in country and abroad.They have also condemned attack on senior journalist Ashwani Kumar Bureau Chief Aaj Tak. They said attack on senior journalist is highly condemnable and asked the Government to investigate by instituting a high level enquiry to see under what circumstances Ashwani, Sr. Journalist seriously injured and also asked the Government to take steps to ensure Ashwani's proper treatment.
Jammu Tigers has condemned the attack on the freedom of media and seizing of media channels JK Channel and Take One Channel and newspaper offices in Jammu.
Condemning the Governor NN Vohra’s (Multani) move to gag the voice of media, Kuljeet Singh Jamwal, Jammu Tigers Supremo said that he is following Pakistani President Parvez Musharraf’s foot steps nee dictates to suppress the nationalist people of Jammu region who are upholding the secular and sovereign values of Indian nationhood. He said that Vohra who is an agent of Islamist forces is trying to crush the nationalist forces which is detrimental to the values of Indian nationhood.
“It is a peoples movement led by people for defeating the anti-Indian and separatist forces,” adding if the Govt. of India cannot allow Indians to have a piece of land for ‘temporary period’ for building ‘temporary facilities’ what would be the fate of those who are fighting for the cause of India nationhood.
Founder President and Spiritual head of spiritual awareness society has also strongly condemned the attack on the media persons by the administration.
He stated that by banning channels not to telecast Jammu situation they cannot curb agitation. He also appealed to the Governor to save Jammuities from further loss.
Young Panthers President and former MLA Balwant Singh Mankotia has strongly condemned the government move to stifle the voice of media by 'sealing' the offices of JK Channel and Take One TV and termed it as the blackest day of democratic history of India.
Young Panthers president Balwant Singh Mankotia in a press statement issued here said that Government decision to first restrict the movement of mediapersons by attacking and harassing them and now by sealing the offices of two TV channels has exposed its deep rooted contempt against the freedom of expression and democratic values especially in Jammu region.
Mankotia asked the Govt. of India to see reason and intervene immediately to restore the land to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board and recall NN Vohra immediately. He said that Govt. of India cannot retrive Kashmir by ignoring the nationalist sentiment and appeasing the separatists.
Mankotia urged the JKNPP chief Prof. Bhim Singh to immediately take up the matter with Prime Minister and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi for recall of Governor Vohra, lifting restrictions on media and restoring land back to SASB.
He also expressed serious concern over the targetting of Aaj Tak Channel senior Correspondent Ashwani Kumar by Police and other journalists including Raju Kerni of Zee News, Rajinder Kumar of Take One TV and other media persons.
All J&K Kashyap Rajput Sabha Moti Bazar under the chairmanship of Rajesh Kumar President of the sabha too has condemned the attack on media and administration. The Sabha also resolved that it will fully support to SASB till the land is not handover to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board.
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