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| History belies NC claim of upholding freedom of press | | Ye moun aur masoor ki daal! | | Early Times Report
JAMMU, July 27: National Conference leader, Sharif-ud-Din Shariq while taking a dig at Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) patron, Mufti Muhammad Stayed and Bhartaya Janata Party (BJP) leadership claimed his organization (NC) had ensured freedom of speech of expression and the freedom of press in Jammu Kashmir.
On May 3 last year, the NC general secretary, Sheikh Nazir claimed that NC had offered sacrifices for freedom of press. Elderly people have rubbished the claims of both the leaders. According to them, the second oldest profession was prostituted by NC from the very beginning.
The NC, history reveals, did not believe in freedom of press even when it was at war with the Dogra rulers. A prolific journalist, Kashfi became editor of Khidmat in 1943. He left no stone unturned to popularize National Conference. One day Moulana Masoodi stepped into his office and gave him a scornful look. A shattered, scared and shocked Kashfi asked reasons for his anger. "You do not prefix Quaid-e-Azam to the name of Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah," Masoodi retorted. Kashfi refused to succumb.
The incident was reported to Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah who beat him up to pulp with a hockey stick. In 1947, when state came under Indian rule, going got tough for Kashfi for host of reasons. Several people, including Moulana Masoodi, started conspiring against him. He migrated to Pakistan administered Kashmir.
Pandit Prem Nath Bazaz and JN Sathu also suffered for their fearless reporting. When Sheikh Abdullah assumed power in 1947,Hamdard was subjected to censorship. The censorship was strictly enforced after the 1947 war. Prem Nath Bazaz was arrested on October 21, 1947. Later, he was exiled.
During this period (1947-50) Sathu ran the Hamdard. In that same year, the Hamdard published Sir Zaffarullah Khan's speech at the UN. It created a storm in the Valley. Sathu narrated, "Sheikh Abdullah was the emergency administrator. Shayam Lal Want, a close aide of Sheikh Abdullah, beat up a Hamdard hawker and threatened him to stop selling the newspaper or face dire consequences."
There was some more trouble with the government. Ultimately the newspaper was closed down. In 1950, Sathu too was exiled. He went to New Delhi and stayed with Prem Nath Bazaz.
The National Conference has been following the policy to this day. Three breach of privilege notices against three scribes in the budget session of the legislature last year is a record. This speaks volumes about sacrifices offered by the NC for upholding freedom of press. Who can forget persecution of newspaper editors and owners especially in Jammu region?
And as far as upholding freedom of speech and expression is concerned, the mark on the back of 80-year-old Abdul Ahad (name changed) is enough to belie this claim. His back was ironed by a police officer on the directions of Sher-e-Kashmir. He had dared to listen to Radio Pakistan. He showed his back to Early Times correspondent. The mark is still there. It is a question mark on NC's tall claims. |
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