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| Will Govt. give up politics of arrogance ? | | | Whenever restrictions are imposed on newspapers for publication of views and news and cable channels are prevented from telecasting news bulletins and views it usually leads to misinformation or disinformation campaign. This is what has happened in Srinagar where during the last one year cable channels are debarred from telecasting and broadcasting news.Their fault was that they would give wide coverage to the statements and speeches of the separatists which the Government had found highly provocative. Well the communication channels and network in the Kashmir valley are one of the best among the cities in India. People in the valley have not to depend on the cable channels for news and views as such reports travel faster on cell phones and even by word of mouth than the news channels telecast. Whenever the separatists speak they do so either at the religious congregations or in the rallies held outside their residences or some parks, if at all the Government gives permission for holding such congregations.
. Communication, transport and other facilities have resulted in a well-knit social and family circles in Kashmir where people come to know about the events and incidents within minutes of their happenings. Hence imposing ban on cable channels for telecasting news and views seems to be a meaningless exercise. And whenever separatists feel the need for communicating their views on certain issues to people they circulate brochures and pamphlets which too defeat the purpose of ban on new telecast. The other day Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, yet again demonstrated his anger and hatred for individuals and cable channels and newspapers if they publish or telecast news and views that are not palatable for the Government. The Government in general and the Chief Minister in particular are not willing to accept criticism. Omar has made it clear that government will not allow local cable channels to broadcast news.“We are not going to allow
local channels to broadcast news, not in the immediate future,” Omar has stated..
He seems to be so much worked up against some cable channels that he has decided to ignore his ministerial colleague,Taj Mohiuddin's threat to quit the cabinet if the ban was not revoked.Omar has said: “I don’t want to lose a capable minister for a few channels. I will talk to the minister on the issue. I have no intention of changing my decision on regarding channels". What was the provocation for the Government that imposed the ban ?The state administration had invoked ban on local TV channels for allegedly violating the Cable Television Network (Regulations) Act, 1995 by giving wide coverage to “provocative speeches by secessionist elements” in the Valley while broadcasting news.Omar needs to know that views of the separatists on various issues have not been blocked by banning telecast of their views and speeches. Whatever the separatists have to convey to the people they do it through the word of mouth and with the help
of their supporters and workers. People in Kashmir treat Omar's action against cable channels akin to the Congress action against Baba Ramdev.Both the acts denote nothing but political arrogance. This very arrogance has been the reason for suspending release of advertisement to some newspapers in the state. If Omar and his fellow travelers had found the news telecasts provocative they could have discussed the matter with the cable operators. If they found some newspapers unwilling to act as Government's mouthpiece they could have discussed the issue and sort out the irritants.No.It is not in the scheme of things either in the Congress or in the National Conference. Omar should remember that even the mighty Indira Gandhi and her congress lost the general election in 1977 only because of the internal emergency that she had imposed in the country under which press freedom was muzzled. Will Omar give up what he seems to have inherited from his alliance
partner, the Congress ?And cable operators too should realise that freedom of press and speech is not a licence to cause damage.
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