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| NC official "Media Cell's" pick & choose way annoys all | | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Apr 03:
Functioning in an arbitrary manner, the state information department has virtually turned into an "official" Media Cell of the ruling National Conference. Instead of logics, the department is guided by personal opinions and biases while issuing advertisement to local newspapers. While the "official" newspapers receive more advertisement, those who highlight deficiencies of the NC-Congress government, systematic efforts are being made to relegate them to the wall.
There are several instances when the upcoming newspapers have been discriminated against, but on March 04 last, a multi-colour advertisement was issued to only one or two local dailies.
Carrying political slogans -- 'State Treading on Path of Development', 'Dreams Turning Into reality', 'Better Road Connectivity Pledges Better Future' -- the advertisement was issued
on behalf of PWD minister G M Saroori, who may not be knowing about the information department's "pick and choose" method.
In the advertisement, Saroori and his deputy Javed Ahmad Dar had thanked the central leaders for sanctioning a whopping Rs 9,377.46 cr for the four-laning of Jammu-Srinagar National Highway-1A.
Every newspaper, including the upcoming local dailies, have their own share of readers. It would have been judicious on the part of the information department to release this advertisement to all the
local newspapers to best convey the minister's message to a variety of masses. But it was not done which shows that the department is not governed by fixed rules. It has been whimsical for sure.
With the majority newspaper organisations, its attitude is despotic and oppresive notwithstanding the fact that its heads virtually find themselves crippled and speechless when they face the "mighty and
powerful" in the corridors of power.
Its discriminatory attitude and fussy ways are resulting in the imposition of curbs on those newspaper organisations, which pursue the journalism of truth, refusing to toe the "illogical" government
line.
Those, who dare to write, are snubbed and insulted in the closed corridors. The information department's wings are virtually crippled nowadays. It has become submissive and obedient Media Cell of NC. The department has an army of reporters, some of them good in real sense, to cover the official functions, which in J&K means covering of functions of ministers only, but due to its forced "obliging"
nature, it has spared some to cover the press conferences of NC's defeated MLAs.
On March 30 last, Ajay Sadhotra's press conference was covered by information department. Sadhotra, a defeated MLA, is now MLC. Though he does not hold any "government post", the information department was at his beck and call.
Instead of NC's own media cell, Sadhotra's press note was released by NC's official media cell, ie information department. To let the department function with honour and diginity, there was
an immediate need to revamp it. There was also a need for the government not to impose "indirect"
curbs on the fourth estate by exercising its authority in a "wrong" way.
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