Press Statement

Government advertisements withheld from Kashmir outlets

12 Mar, 2019

The Indian Journalists Union (UU), the largest and most representative organisation of working joumalists in the country, strongly condemned withholding of state government advertisements to two English dailies, Greater Kashmir and Kashmir Reader based in Srinagar, by the J&K Government, presently administered by the Governor Satya Pal Malik since the middle of last month.

In a statement issued on Monday, the Indian Journalists Union (UU) President and member of Press Council of India (PCI)Amar Devulapalli and Secretary-General Sabina Inderjit said denial of advertisements to Greater Kashmir and Kashmir Reader intended to arm-twisting to toe the line of the administration and amounted to attack on the freedom of the press. They noted that the Kashmir media was working under trying circumstances under constant pressure from the state and non-state actors.

“The action of the J&K Government under Governor rule goes contrary to the recommendations of the sub-committee on Kashmir of the Press Council of India (PCI) which said the advertisements should not be withheld to any newspaper on the grounds of objectionable reportage until it was considered by the Press Council of India and gave its opinion. The J&K government which accepted the decision of the PC I, should have referred the reports it considered untrue to the PCI and awaited its decision before stopping advertisements,” the IJU statement said.

Amar and Sabina Inderjit demanded that the Press Council of India Chairman Justice C K Prasad should immediately intervene and order restoration of advertisement to Greater Kashmir and Kashmir Reader immediately.