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| Will Omar fulfill his promise on press club and colony? | | |
Nirbhay Jammual
Jammu, Jan 18: When Chief Minister,Omar Abdullah,announced in Srinagar on Thursday that his Government will facilitate setting up of a Press Club and a residential colony for Journalists in the state's summer capital one was reminded of the commitment which his father,Farooq Abdullah,had made on the issue in mid 80's.The Journalists Association had organised a lunch for Dr Farooq in Srinagar Club where the newsmen requested the then Chief Minister for allotment of a Government building for setting up the press club.It is not part of the character of Farooq Abdullah to reject the request and that too when it is from the Journalist community.He readily agreed.After finishing the lunch he invited Journalists for a stroll outside the Srinagar club for the purpose of identifying a suitable Government quarter for the proposed press club.When the journalists spotted a spacious Government bunglow,a few feet away from the main entrance of the Emporium garden locked they suggested to Farooq Abdullah to allot that very bunglow for the press club.He readily agreed.Two senor Government functionaries,Ghulam Qadir Lone,Divisional Commissioner,and SSP Srinagar,Ali Mohd.Watali,who had been also invited to the lunch,were present.True to his style of functioning Farooq Abdullah directed Lone and Watali to get the locks of the bunglow open so that newsmen could set up a press club.The two officers agreed.After two days a journalist phoned Ghulam Qadir Lone,in my presence,to know the progress of the case.He said "we have not received any instructions in writing from the Chief Minister's secretariat.In the absence of such written instructions we cannot open the locks of the bunglow."The matter ended there despite Journalists trying to remind Farooq about it.Later newsmen came to know that the bunglow had been allotted to one of the brother's of Farooq Abdullah.
Kashmiri Journalists had raised the issue regarding the press club and a colony for newsmen with the former Chief Minister,Ghulam Nabi Azad.Half a dozen journalists had travelled from Srinagar to Jammu only for meeting Azad where they raised several demands.Despite Azad's assurance nothing materialised.Well when Ghulam Nabi Azad was member Parliament he had been invited to the Jammu Press Club.He made an announcement that he would donate one month's salary to the Club.Sorry he did not fulfill his promise.Dr Farooq Abdullah was invited to the Press Club where he announced that he will donate a wall carpet for the Club.He did not do that.As chief Minister he had also announced that an amount of Rs.five lakhs would be made available for the Press Club development.He failed to fulfill his promise.But as member of the Parliament he honoured his commitment of donating Rs.five lakhs out of his constituency development funds to the Press Club.So far Rs.two lakhs have been released.Well the contribution of Farooq Abdullah in the development of the Jammu Press Club cannot be ignored.Journalists of Jammu were initially encouraged and helped by Sheikh Ghulam Rasool,who was the Chief secretary,in setting up the Press club in one room.The Club was inaugurated by former Governor K.V.Krishna Rao.Again it was Dr Farooq who helped the Jammu Press club to occupy the premises where once Coffee house existed.
Journalists in Jammu have tried,on several occasions during the last 10 years,to seek Government help for establishing a residential colony for newsmen but positive response from the successive Governmenrts has been missing.If a large number of journalists have been given plots for building houses at Soura and Rawalpora colony it has been during the time Mufti Mohd.Sayeed was a minister during the time the cabinet was headed by G.M.Sadiq and later by Syed Mir Qasim.Even in Jammu senior journalists were able to get plots during that time.These developments pose a challenge for young Omar Abdullah.If he is able to fulfill his commitments made to journalists he could be treated as much media friendly as Mufti Sayeed is being considered.Not only this it will demonstrate whether Omar means what he says or it will denote that what he says he does not mean
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