x

Like our Facebook Page

   
Early Times Newspaper Jammu, Leading Newspaper Jammu
 
Breaking News :   Back Issues  
 
news details
First press conference its posterity in Jammu & Kashmir state
PREM SARAF12/31/2011 12:25:10 AM
Press Conference is a sort of meeting at which a person or an organization makes a public statement to the media personnel who may also ask questions to the rhetoric for publication. Very simple, of cause, but this concept was just an extraneous one up to the beginning of the 20th century in our State Jammu & Kashmir. The standing practice then for announcing a Governments' Notification was very primitive, that is, through drum beating or through mouth words. No doubt, we used to get some newspapers from the Punjab but they hardly reported any happening from our State.
It was only in 1924 when first newspaper of the State appeared from Jammu by a great visionary Lala Mulk Raj Saraf that the Government as well as the public started feeling energetic in reading a newspaper and writing in it. The public felt joy and extended their eagerness to be involved in it. Realising the potential of Journalism they understood the importance of this media to communicate easily with the government and the public for their social, political, administrative and economical matters. It was all under this influence that the then Prime Minister of the State, B.N.Rau started thinking about the effective administration of the State. Being an enlightened administrator, he felt the pulse of the people and gave a serious t~ ought to listen the people in parson but through the Press.
It was in early February 1944 that Mr.Rau expressed his desire to meet the people to know personally the prevailing situation in different fields that needed his intention and planning to deal in the best possible manner .He thought this was the best way to exchange views with him for the sake of popular and effective administration. Maharaja Hari Singh also understood the importance of the Press. He used to act in positive way as he was riot following old fashioned or false beliefs also gave his nod to Mr.Rau to go ahead with his plan to meet the press personally.
Mr.Rau called the senior most and experienced journalist of the State Lala Mulk Raj Saraf to his office to discuss the details of the Press Conference and asked him to call all the journalists to participate. Following his advice Mr. Saraf invited all the journalists of the State in his office to talk about the subject matter and asked them that they could question anything to the Prime Minister without any reservation and also expressed their own views without any fear making this Press Conference most useful and positive for the general good of the people of the state. All said and done, the date of 1st Conference was set as feb.13.1949 in a big room of the High Court-(old secretariat Jammu) Most of the Journalists of the state came to Jammu showing great enthusiasm to meet the Prime Minister face to face. The Prime Minister Rau came to the venue along with his Chief Secretary Lala Haveli Ram at the fixed time. At the start of meeting the Prime Minister said that he was very happy to meet the journalists collectively instead of individually. He stated that he had come to the State to try to make the State an ideal one for which he earnestly needed cooperation of the people through the Press. He believed the Press had the power to influence and mould the opinion of the masses .He further said but in his typical bureaucratic style that he believed the journalists should also realize their responsibilities and avoid any unnecessary criticism of the government. He suggested that before publishing any report they should make thorough enquiries regarding the authenticity of the report and that was possible only if they get their report vetted by the relevant authorities of the State. He further said that in this process if they felt any difficulty they should approach him and bring to his notice the whole matter to get clarification and then alone the Press could render real service.
On hearing his speech, the journalists present in the meeting took aback and felt a sort of shock. Immediately, the journalists started consultation among themselves and felt that the Prime Minister wanted them to curb their freedom of expression. Then the questing-answer session started high lighting various views. Some of the questions and answers discussed there are mentioned here which showed the matured and responsible way the journalists bearing and courage of their professionalism.
Mulk Raj Saraf( Ranbir Jammu) : Thank you Prime Minister for your calling this Conference. But it seemed that we have been called here for some bargain because your speech is a direct attack on our right of expression and to curb our independence. How is this possible that the journalists should first take the permission from the government authority before any report is published in our papers. This is impossible. The actual position should be that once the editor is convinced about the worthiness of the report and itsautl1enticity it is his right to publish it. Whatever we say we say it through our papers and if the government authority finds it incorrect let it .contradict because the government is also within their right to take any action under law against the paper.
Prime Minister: Mine is merely a suggestion I am not prescribing any Jaw for you.
R.K.Kak (UPI): A Srinagar newspaper published certain allegations against an officer and its editor was at once arrested. Could not a proper action be taken according to law? The editor could be sued for defamation. If you need any cooperation from the Press, the government should also show respect to the Press.
Prime Minister: This matter is subjudice .so I cannot say anything.
Mulk Raj Saraf: Our complaint is against the procedure adopted by the government;
Prime Minister: I have noted it.
Raja Akbar Khan (Such, Mirpur): if we have got a grievance against an official, do you mean we should first send it to you at Jammu from Mirpur. Prime Minister: you can write a letter.
Raja Akbar Khan:- That way our position is reduced to that of a C.I.D agent. Prime Minister felt little embarrassed and nervous and did not speak anything.
Ram Saran Dass: ( Zindgi, Jammu): Actually, there should not be any pressure from the Government side and allow the press freedom of expression.
Prime Minister: I have already told you my mind.
Girdhari Lal Anand: The Government has divided the newspaper in "A" "B" and "C" categories for publishing government advertisements which must be scrabed.
Prime Minister: I have noted it.
Kaviraj Vaishno Dutt Gupta ( Desh Sewak, Jammu):
Whenever we try to get any information we are told that it is confidential. Prime Minister: No reply.
Chaudhary Mohd Shafi (Sudarshan, Jammu): The real demand of the people of our State is the establishment of a responsible government. What help you intend to render to the people in this connection?
Prime Minister: It is too big a question and cannot be discussed here.
Om Parkash Saraf (Rattan Jammu) :The question is also being put to the biggest authority of the State.
Prim Minister: No reply.
Kumari Shanta (Bharti, Jammu): Would you also consider the plight of the women in this State.
Prime Minister: I have noted and an appropriate action will be taken in, this regard.
Kumari ',akuntla (Usha Jammu): Would you meet a women delegation? Prime Minister: I have noted it.
Dino Bhai Pant (Gulab, Jammu) You have said that justice will be done to all. There are 78% Muslims in the State but only one day after you took over as Prime Minister of the State, the Revenue Minister nominated 4 Muslims, 4 Hindus and 2 Sikh as Naib Tehsildars.
Prime Minister: No reply.
N.D Nargis (Chand, Jammu): The Muslim League has been given a prominent place in the Kashmir Map of Proposed Pakistan. What do you think about it?
Prime Minister: (After a little pause) I do not want to say anything in this matter.
K.H.Khashid: (who later became the President of Pakistan occupied Kashmir) Despite their population being 78% in the State, the Muslims are not getting a fair deal. How do you intend to remove their grievances? Prime Minister: Whatever would be done for the betterment of the State the biggest majority inhabitable the state would proportionately be the biggest beneficiary.
The Prime Minister faced many more questions from the Journalists and felt little uncomfortable. The Conference ended after one and half hour but unfortunately not with a solid note
Since the Prime Minister Rau was not satisfied with the politics and its administration in this State, like his predecessors, he did not remain in the saddle of premiership for long. He could not make much for the model State which he had desired it to be.
He went back to his native place Madras where he remained for 3 months. When he came back to the state he resigned and left the State for good.
Maharaja Hari Singh then appointed the Nawab Jafer Ali khan as official Prime Minister who also couldn't deliver much during his brief tenure. Meanwhile, it did give rise to persistent demand for a staunch responsible government and to do away with the import of outsider Prime Minister. Accordingly, it was on January 29,1945 that a son of soil Pandit Ram Chander Kak' was appointed Prime minister of the State. What he did during his tenure was for less than his predecessors. He was unseated most o.unceremoniously from the Prime Minister's chair and ultimately turned out of the State for his naughtiness and wicked activities. Subsequent events in the "State proved that the voice of the people were so important that no government howsoever might it be could afford to ignore vocal chords. The Constructive part of the Press and its ability to pay and think whatever it wanted had brought positive results. Freedom of Press has now been entitled a newspaper the right to publish its own views .The Parliament and the Judiciary of the country has also endorsed this freedom of expression. The present Government has gone a step forward in this direction by enacting a RTI (Right to information) Law which has empowered the public to know what actually the Government is doing to run this macroscopic country. Transparency and freedom of expression have now become the watch word in its administrations. Thus the profession of journalism has pervasive and profounder meaning in the administration functioning and relations with the public.
(Prem Saraf Mob:94694-91260)
  Share This News with Your Friends on Social Network  
  Comment on this Story  
 
 
top stories of the day
 
 
 
Early Times Android App
STOCK UPDATE
  
BSE Sensex
NSE Nifty
 
CRICKET UPDATE
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
Home About Us Top Stories Local News National News Sports News Opinion Editorial ET Cetra Advertise with Us ET E-paper
 
 
J&K RELATED WEBSITES
J&K Govt. Official website
Jammu Kashmir Tourism
JKTDC
Mata Vaishnodevi Shrine Board
Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board
Shri Shiv Khori Shrine Board
UTILITY
Train Enquiry
IRCTC
Matavaishnodevi
BSNL
Jammu Kashmir Bank
State Bank of India
PUBLIC INTEREST
Passport Department
Income Tax Department
JK CAMPA
JK GAD
IT Education
Web Site Design Services
EDUCATION
Jammu University
Jammu University Results
JKBOSE
Kashmir University
IGNOU Jammu Center
SMVDU