Jammu, Mar 27: Around 4,000 runners from across India and abroad are set to participate in Jammu’s first-ever international marathon scheduled for Sunday, marking a significant milestone in the region’s sporting calendar, an official said.

The information was given at a meeting chaired by Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, here to finalise arrangements for the marathon being organised by the Tourism Department, an official spokesperson said.

He directed all departments to thoroughly review their preparations to eliminate any possible gaps on the day of the event.

Taking stock of departmental readiness, Dulloo sought detailed inputs from each Administrative Secretary regarding their respective roles.

He also underscored the necessity of constituting a permanent Steering Committee under the chairmanship of the Additional Chief Secretary, Tourism.

The committee will include the Commissioner Secretary, Youth Services & Sports; Divisional Commissioners; IGP Traffic; Directors of Tourism, along with Chewang Motup, acknowledging his pivotal role in conceptualising and organising these international events here.

The committee will be tasked with scheduling and promoting these events annually to facilitate greater participation from national and international runners.

The chief secretary further emphasised announcing event dates well in advance to enable international participants to plan their travel.

He called for popularising such events to maximise participation and position Jammu & Kashmir as a premier destination for marathon tourism.

He reviewed key aspects, including route sanitisation, traffic management, medical preparedness, and deployment of volunteers to ensure smooth conduct of the event.

Dulloo directed that routes for different race categories should not overlap and must be fit and safe for runners.

Additional Chief Secretary, Tourism, Ashish Chandra Verma, briefed the meeting on preparations and said around 4,000 runners are expected to participate, with on-spot registrations also being facilitated.

Director Tourism, Jammu, Vikas Gupta said so far 3,663 participants, including 91 international runners, have already registered for the event.

The marathon will be held on March 29, 2026, starting at sunrise from the MA Stadium. The event will feature three race categories, including Half Marathon (21 km), 10 km Fitness Run, and 5 km Fun Run.

A total prize pool of Rs 1.33 Crore will be distributed among the winners.

Jammu, Mar 27: Deputy Chief Minister, Surinder Choudhary, today said that the media, regarded as the fourth pillar of democracy, has historically played a significant role in the nation’s freedom struggle and enjoyed the trust of the people.

The Deputy Chief Minister was replying to the issues raised by the Members during a Short Duration Discussion on tackling fake news and misinformation in the Legislative Assembly. He observed that times have changed, and with the advent of social media, which was initially expected to improve people’s lives, has also brought new challenges.

The Deputy Chief Minister said that while the government will take necessary corrective measures, but the media must also introspect and work towards strengthening its credibility, reflecting on how it wishes to be remembered by society.

He said that the media has an important role to play for strengthening J&K. “A strong J&K will lead to a strong India. For this we all have to play the role,” he said.

He added that Media, being called as the fourth pillar of democracy, has a great responsibility and urged the media professionals to follow their conscience and act responsibly, adding that no law can work effectively without self-discipline and ethical conduct.

The Deputy Chief Minister expressed gratitude to the members for their participation in the debate and raising significant issues concerning ethical information dissemination by the media.

Minister for Youth Services and Sports, Satish Sharma, while speaking during the discussion, emphasised that genuine and responsible media practitioners should be encouraged and promoted. He stressed that those involved in spreading fake news, misinformation and disinformation must face exemplary punishment in order to uphold credibility in the media space.

Earlier, the House witnessed a broad consensus across party lines on the need to curb fake news and misinformation, with members calling for stronger measures while safeguarding freedom of speech and expression.

MLA, Ranbir Singh Pathania, while initiating the discussion on tackling fake news and misinformation in Jammu & Kashmir, said that while freedom of speech is a fundamental right, it must be protected from being misinterpreted and misused. He called for a robust regulatory framework, proposing a 36-hour takedown mechanism, clear district-level definitions of fake news, and effective corrective measures.

Highlighting the rise of unregulated digital platforms, particularly on Facebook and Instagram, he stressed the need for mandatory registration and regulatory oversight.

Pathania also advocated for a UT-level Fact Check Unit (FCU) and grievance redressal systems on social media platforms. Citing global frameworks like the Online Safety Act and the Digital Services Act, along with measures in Singapore and Indian states like Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh, he stressed on adopting the best practices in J&K.

He proposed a multi-pronged approach, including an FCU, stakeholder involvement, citizen reporting mechanisms, coordination with national initiatives, timely clarifications and defined takedown timelines.

Pathania emphasised that the key challenge is ensuring accountability while addressing impunity, reiterating the need for a balanced framework to curb misinformation while safeguarding democratic values.

MLA, Dr. Bashir Ahmad Shah Veeri stated that in the present times, misinformation has taken deep roots and is impacting almost every aspect of public life. He cautioned that if not curbed in a timely manner, it could have serious consequences for society and governance.

He emphasised that all stakeholders must play a constructive role and urged that accountability must be clearly fixed, expressing hope that the government will take effective steps in this regard to ensure responsible communication and curb the spread of misinformation.

MLA, Iftikhar Ahmad said that the media has an important role to play in society, and while many are doing commendable work, some elements are unfortunately indulging in the spread of fake news. He stressed the need for a clear policy framework, suggesting that minimum qualifications and standards be prescribed for individuals practicing journalism to uphold credibility and professionalism.

MLA, Sajjad Shaheen also stated that there should be minimum qualification criteria for individuals engaged in media and information dissemination and the space should not be a free-for-all. He emphasised that unverified and misleading content must be effectively restricted, calling for proper regulation to determine eligibility and accountability of those operating in the digital and media space.

MLA Khurshied Ahmed in his address, said that the media forms the fourth pillar of democracy and lauded those who are performing their duties responsibly for the benefit of society.

He, however, noted that certain elements indulge in spreading fake news and stressed that strict provisions should be put in place to take such elements to task, including the imposition of appropriate penalties to ensure accountability and deter misinformation.

MLA Pawan Gupta, while speaking on the occasion, raised concerns over several media outlets and channels operating without proper authorisation from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. He noted that many platforms function without requisite licenses, underscoring the need for strict regulatory measures to tackle the spread of fake news.

MLA Nazir Ahmad Khan (Gurezi) stated that with the ease of creating channels and digital portals, individuals are increasingly entering the information space without adequate regulation. He cautioned that once a person’s image is tarnished through false or misleading information, it becomes extremely difficult to restore, highlighting the serious consequences of fake news.

He pointed out that there is a lack of comprehensive legal provisions to regulate such channels and platforms, while strongly advocating for enacting a robust law to effectively tackle this growing menace.

MLA Rafiq Ahmad Naik suggested that there should be strict legal provisions to effectively curb the spread of fake news and misinformation. He observed that people today are well aware and informed and therefore emphasised the need for responsible dissemination of information, cautioning against the misuse of digital platforms for misleading narratives.

MLA Nizam-ud-din Bhat observed that the media landscape has undergone a significant evolution, bringing both the opportunities and challenges in the dissemination of information.

He noted that the rise of provocative content and instances of defamation has become a matter of concern, stressing that if society is to be kept informed through accurate and factual information for the collective good, it is essential to ensure that this right is not infringed upon.

Bhat added that legal provisions already exist and emphasised the need for their effective implementation to safeguard truth and accountability in the media space.

He further remarked that the issue is fundamentally one of ethics, urging all stakeholders to adhere to responsible practices and uphold the integrity of information dissemination.

MLA Dr.Rameshwar Singh stated that while there are many responsible media professionals, there are also individuals without requisite qualifications who indulge in defamation and tarnishing of reputations. He stressed the need for regulatory oversight and accountability, suggesting that a proper system be put in place to verify credentials and curb such practices.

MLA, Dr.Sajjad Shafi, while speaking during the discussion, emphasised that there should be a minimum educational qualification for individuals entering journalism to ensure responsible reporting in the interest of society. He hailed the role of professional media persons but also stated that some fake media persons indulge in black mailing.

He noted that members across party lines are in agreement on the need for a law to regulate the sector and curb the spread of fake news, reflecting a shared commitment towards accountability and responsible media practices.

MLA Saif-ud-Din Bhat stated that while many journalists are doing commendable work, there are some who unfortunately indulge in the spread of fake news. He emphasized the need to distinguish responsible journalism from misinformation and called for measures to uphold credibility and accountability in the media space.

MLA Pirzada Farooq Ahmad Shah stated that the media has a crucial role in holding the government accountable and strengthening democratic institutions.

He clarified that the intent is not to target genuine media houses but stressed the need for a proper regulatory mechanism to ensure accountability. He further suggested that District Development Commissioners be authorised to monitor and oversee media activities at the local level, so that responsibility can be clearly fixed on those misusing the platform.

MLA Sham Lal Sharma observed that professional ethics and values in the media space are witnessing a decline, stressing the need to uphold the rule of law.

He noted that while laws and monitoring mechanisms already exist, there is a need for the Government to be more proactive in their implementation. He urged to put in place suitable mechanism at District level to curb misuse of social media and to check fake news.

Sharma further suggested the formation of a House committee, in coordination with Accredited media representatives, to strengthen oversight and ensure adherence to ethical standards and accountability in the dissemination of information.

MLA Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi stated that the State must effectively perform its duties to ensure that laws are implemented in letter and spirit.

Jammu, Mar 27: National Conference and Congress legislators, joined by other MLAs from Kashmir, on Friday flagged their concerns in the Legislative Assembly over “withdrawal of their security escorts.”

The issue was raised by National Conference MLA Saif-ud-Din Bhat when the Speaker initiated short duration discussion on the menace of “fake news” in J&K.

Before discussion could be initiated by BJP MLA R S Pathania, Bhat sought the attention of the chair, “We have come to know that the facility of security escorts of MLAs has been withdrawn in Kashmir only. In Jammu, it has not been withdrawn. We have been rendered helpless. Who will take responsibility for our lives?”

As this was a common grouse, all other MLAs, mainly from the National Conference and Congress from Kashmir joined the cause. As many members tried to flag their concerns, nothing was audible in the din.

Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather asked them to raise the issue one by one.

Justice (retired) Hasnain Masoodi stated, “This arbitrary withdrawal of security escorts in Kashmir has made it difficult for us to fulfil our responsibilities as an MLA. We cannot visit our constituencies. In the prevailing security scenario, it is impossible for us to move around to address our constituency concerns. It is a matter of serious concern.”

His party colleague Mir Saifullah endorsed his point, saying, “Without security escort, our movement has become restricted. For reasons unknown, the security (escort) of all Kashmir MLAs has been withdrawn. Situation has reached the extent that we cannot step out of our houses. Literally, we have been caged. When we cannot move out of our residences, where is the question of visiting our constituencies.”

“The government should take notice of it and our security (escort) should be restored,” he demanded.

Other MLAs from Kashmir too endorsed his point as they were not allowed to speak by the Chair,

Congress MLAs too have been vociferously agitating on the issue for the past three days.