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| Freedom of press under threat in J&K, say political parties | | |
Early Times Report
Jammu, Jan 18: Political parties smelt a deep-rooted conspiracy in the decision of the Jammu and Kashmir government to close the Kashmir Press Club.
Parties observed that freedom of the press is under threat in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
In one voice, political parties of J&K raised concern over, what they called, the decision of the authorities to interfere in the activities of media.
Congress, National Conference, Apni Party, and CPM have taken strong exception to this decision of the J&K administration and vowed to oppose it tooth and nail.
Stating that the closure of Press Club was unacceptable and unfair, the J&K Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) Tuesday urged the LG administration to revisit the decision.
JKPCC unequivocally condemn the closure of Kashmir Press Club by the administration and sought revocation of the closure order in the larger interest of the press freedom, while laying emphasizes over paving the way for holding free and fair elections to the Club.
Former Cabinet Minister and Apni Party Senior Vice President Ghulam Hassan Mir said the takeover of the Kashmir Press Club building and land in Srinagar is an unjustified move that the government should have desisted from in order to allow the impartial functioning of the press.
“Media is the fourth pillar of democracy as it persistently voices the issues concerning the welfare of the citizens, progress, and development.
Apni Party doesn’t subscribe to such irrational moves wherein an important press association has been dispossessed off its office overnight. We oppose such arbitrary actions,” he said.
Mir said the administration has no stake to indulge in the internal matters of the Press Club rather it should facilitate the proper functioning of this organization.
While expressing resentment over the closure of the Kashmir Press Club by the administration, CPI(M) Secretary Ghulam Nabi Malik has said that closing club is an assault on the rights of the people.
The closure of the Kashmir Press Club is part of the continuous process to throttle the press freedom and democracy in Kashmir. The press/media in Jammu and Kashmir is already working under immense stress and strain.
The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference has also deplored the forcible takeover and subsequent closure of the Kashmir Press Club, saying the measure is the latest milestone in dismantling all insignias of democracy.
This was said by the Party Spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar while expressing resentment over the closure of the Kashmir Press Club.
“Governments order of closing KPC should not be seen in isolation. It is deplorable to see how the government could steep so low to even scavenge the leftovers of democracy in Kashmir. I on behalf of our party condemn the closure of KPC in the strongest possible terms”, he said. |
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