Srinagar: The Kashmir Press Club (KPC) on Tuesday expressed serious concern over the “unprecedented communication blockade” in the Valley and criticised the authorities for allegedly asking some senior journalists to vacate their government accommodation.
The KPC also said this is nothing but “harassment aimed at coercing journalists to toe a particular line”.
Denouncing the curbs imposed on media and journalists in Kashmir, the press club’s executive committee said in a meeting that due to “unprecedented communication blockade” affecting mobile telephony, Internet and telephone landlines, journalists have been “crippled, overwhelmingly disabling them from reporting the ground situation”.
Since the communication blockade was imposed in the region on August 5, the club took up the issue with government authorities on several occasions, urging them to restore mobile phones, Internet and telephone landlines to journalists and media outlets, including newspapers, and also the club itself, it said.
“But all these efforts have proved to be futile as these services have not been restored to journalists till date,” the KPC said in a statement.
It said currently, hundreds of journalists — both local and visiting and media workers — are forced to wait in queues for their turn to file assignments at the makeshift Media Facilitation Centre here.
“The centre is equipped with only five computers and a low speed Internet connection,” the statement said.
Despite repeated reminders by the press club, the Directorate of Information and Public Relations has not made any attempt to enhance services including open access to WiFi for journalists at the centre until Internet and telephone facility is restored in the Valley, the KPC claimed.
“The Kashmir Press Club demands that the government restore internet and telephone facility to journalists and media outlets,” the statement read.
“The executive committee meeting also expressed serious concern over the harassment of Kashmiri journalists and pressure tactics adopted by the government.
“It is noted with concern that at least three senior journalists… were asked by the government to vacate the government accommodations as soon as possible, which is nothing but harassment aimed at coercing journalists to toe a particular line,” it said.
Also read: How foreign media has covered Kashmir crisis — and run foul of Modi govt
Both the houses overwhelmingly passed actions taken on Kashmir. President approved them and now they are the part of Indian constitution. The present NDA government is the most popular government after independence of India. The government is now responsible to keep peace in Kashmir. No one gets opportunity to violet it specially in Kashmir. The government has all power and even any suspected terrorist must be encountered. Now India cannot loose any additional penny to waste on Kashmir.
Please educate me about real journalism. These 3rd rated Google depended mosquitoes think they are valuable in society. Once you stop cut n paste from other outlets and then go on ground search for reality n truth then you publish your article then people will believe you. If you are bias n political journalist then no one has interest in your article. Stop phucking crying n stand front of mirror. Thanks to social media where common people n government can express they’re views to each other’s. These type of journalist better looks for alternative career.
After seventy long years, and enough of dilly dally and billions of tax payer money wasted, it is time Indian kashmiris and their sponsors toe the Indian line. Even Imran and his buddies, who were jumping all over the place with war hysteria, suddenly realised it is better for them to toe the Modi line.
As Cut the Clutter explained, rumours abound in such situations, and they can do more harm than honest portrayal of reality. I think the foreign media is getting the big picture right. Specific details can add nuance, but are not missed if reporting is under such severe restrictions. 2. With the national economy in a slump, there is no space for some grand package to be announced.