Srinagar, Oct 30: The continuous suspension of the government advertisements to the Greater Kashmir newspaper echoed in the Legislative Assembly for the second consecutive day on Thursday.
The legislators called for freedom of the press and safety of reporters besides seeking proper distribution of the advertisements to the media houses.
Speaking in the House, senior CPI (M) leader and MLA Kulgam, Muhammad Yusuf Tarigami, said that India, being democratic, should pay attention to the media, which is the fourth pillar of democracy.
“But when it comes to press freedom in India, our index is going down. Compared to the index of 2022, our index has further gone down,” he said.
Referring to J&K, Tarigami said, “The press here is more oppressed. And I believe that in any society where freedom of the press is snatched, it benefits the disruptive elements and promotes divisive activities.”
He said that freedom of the press was not in conflict with sovereignty or the national interest, but it is a pillar for promoting national unity.
“Whatever we deliberate here in the House, if it does not reach the public and they do not get aware of the government policies, there will be no transparency or accountability in the system,” Tarigami said.
Referring to the distribution of government advertisements to newspapers, he said that the process was not implemented on merit during the past few years.
“No criteria are fixed for the distribution of advertisements to newspapers. But now that an elected government is in place, we expect a proper media policy to be in place,” Tarigami said.
Referring to the reorganisation Act, he said that as per the business rules, all the institutions were under the domain of the elected government.
“But, I am surprised at why there is confusion in it. There is no policy for the distribution of advertisements to the newspapers,” Tarigami said.
He said that newspapers like Greater Kashmir and others were ignored by the previous regime, and these institutions face the same treatment despite having an elected government in place.
“We must ensure freedom of the press and protect the reporters. We must protect this fourth pillar of our democracy, and a proper media policy should be implemented for equal distribution of advertisements to the media houses,” Tarigami said.
Later, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) MLA from Pulwama, Waheed-ur-Rehman Para, expressed serious concern over the continuous suspension of the government advertisement to Greater Kashmir, Kashmir Uzma, and other newspapers.
“Since 2019, Greater Kashmir, which is the largest circulated newspaper in Jammu and Kashmir, has not figured in the list of those newspapers that are provided government advertisements,” he said.
Para said that if the LG’s administration denied advertisement to these newspapers, the CM of the elected government, who is minister in-charge of the Information Department, must ensure equal distribution of advertisements to the newspapers.
“People are dependent on Greater Kashmir and Kashmir Uzma newspapers for notifications and other advertisements. So, if the government could not do it in the last year, it must act on it now,” Para said.
On Wednesday, National Conference (NC) MLA from Zadibal, Tanvir Sadiq, asked the government to explain the discrimination under which advertisements were denied to newspapers, including Greater Kashmir and certain digital platforms.
