By Arif Bashir
The Journalist fraternity in Kashmir on Saturday condemned what it termed as the ‘strong-arm’ measures of government for allegedly, halting the smooth functioning of media in Kashmir valley and announced to, collectively, suspend publication of all newspapers from Saturday onwards. No newspaper has been published from Kashmir valley since Wednesday as, media men who organized a sit-in Dharna at Press colony Srinagar this Saturday, alleged that more than 25 media men were roughed up by forces besides snatching cameras from some eminent photojournalists and also registering an FIR against a local journalist, correspondent of Television channel News X, ‘baselessly’ accusing him of instigating violence and waging war against the country. Curfew passes were also not issued for the local journalists causing suspension of newspapers, news magazines, local cable channels etc, the agitating media men said.
Angered over what they termed as ‘pampering’ of journalists who reached here from new Delhi and other parts of India and covered various events for various news channels and newspapers, the local journalists further alleged that ‘those journalists were provided security and other necessary facilities while as the local journalists were denied freedom to move out and cover the news.
“It is an attack on the freedom of media in Kashmir and things were deliberately and craftily laid down to halt us from performing our duties and covering the news. Initially we were given curfew passes which were cancelled later on and no new curfew passes were issued. We were stuck inside our houses while as journalists coming here from outside were pampered, provided security, transport and other facilities to cover the events” said Bashir Ahmad Bashir, President of Press Guild of Kashmir and the editor of a local Urdu daily. Terming it as an ‘undeclared’ ban on media in Kashmir, Bashir further added the suspension of publication of newspapers would continue till government restores complete freedom of media in the valley.
Stating that the conditions were ‘moulded’ in an unsuitable manner with the staffers of newspapers, news organisation or local news channel denied necessary curfew passes to cover various events during curfew in various parts of the valley, journalists alleged that the ‘draconian measures’ adopted by the state government had made it impossible for local media persons to cover news and also publish the newspapers.
President of Kashmir Press Association Ghulam Hassan Kaloo while condemning what he termed the ‘discrimination’ and ‘draconian’ measures brought in use to curb the freedom of media termed it unfortunate that media in Kashmir was not allowed to perform what belongs to it. “We are being discriminated while as a selected portion of India media is not only allowed but facilitated to cover events and report in sync with the set designs of the government. It is unfortunate and we won’t come up with the publication of newspapers until freedom of media is restored and government responds to our demands,” said Kaloo while alleging that insufficient number of curfew passes was a direct hint that government wanted the local media shut for the period.
The decision of suspending publication of newspapers in the valley was taken in a joint meeting of the five representative bodies of media fraternity of Kashmir viz Kashmir Press Association, Press Guild of Kashmir, Kashmir Journalists Corps, Kashmir Press Photographers Association and Kashmir Video Journalists Association, who resolved that the publication of newspapers couldn’t be resumed unless concrete measures were taken to restore complete freedom of media in Kashmir.
Terming it a ‘brazen action’ against News X correspondent Suhail Bukhari and other members of the organization, who have allegedly been booked under numerous ‘draconian’ laws, the meeting demanded immediate restoration of freedom of media and also asked the government to repeal the accusations against the said correspondent.
It is pertinent to mention that the ‘news flash’ which was factually wrong had been shown by the said channel after which the channel had also extended its apology for the action.
Stating that the conditions were worse than ever for photojournalists and video journalists this time around, Farooq Javid, President Press Photographers Association lamented the attitude of the forces and the directions of the state government which, he alleged, treated them ‘not as’ journalists but as’ protestors. “We were chased furiously, beaten and cameras snatched from many of our members. We were treated like stone pelters, I don’t know why when cameramen reaching here from Delhi were given liberty to work. It is condemnable,” said Farooq anguished over the beating of some of the members of his association. He further added that the conditions had never been so hostile since last twenty years.
Meanwhile condemning the restrictions on media and the ‘unashamed approach of the government’, the journalist fraternity further added that the government had not shown any respect for the media as an important institution while as, the fraternity members added, a discriminatory attitude was being adopted. “Delhi based journalists are brought amidst all administrative and security help and assistance and full government hospitality is at their disposal so as to ensure the coverage of the events, as it deems suitable” said one of the members of the fraternity.
The meeting also resolved that until a public assurance was, not only made but implemented in letter and spirit, that there will be no restriction on media and cases against media persons withdrawn, media persons in Kashmir would not be in a position to do justice to their profession.