Srinagar, July 21, KP: Joint Forum of News Paper Editors Friday met the visiting members of sub-committee of the Press Council of India here in Srinagar city. The delegation comprising of 25 members was led by president JFNE Ghulam Hasan Kaloo.
The delegation while highlighting different problems faced by media fraternity in Kashmir asked the sub-committee to restore its credibility in Kashmir as the president JFNE alleged that PCI presented fabricated facts regarding Kunanpohpora mass rape incident in 1991. During the meeting JFNE claimed that false and fictitious report about Kunanposhpora was filed by PCI on the behest of the then government of India to undermine the role and credibility of local media in Kashmir.
“An institution mandated by law to protect and oversee the conduct of media permitted itself to be used and abused by the state apparatus to subvert an institution in Kashmir’s most challenging phase of history,” the delegation told the sub-committee of the Press Council of India.
The delegation also alleged that news paper owners yearning for DAVP’s have to hire agents in Delhi. They said that corruption has crept into the institution and newspaper owners have to grease the palms of the agents to get the DAVP’s.
The delegation also said that PCI has not been playing a fair role when it comes to Kashmir. “Journalists here are working under extreme conditions. Many have got killed while on daily basis, they are being humiliated, thrashed and threatened. The PCI should intervene and fight for the justice of these Journalists,” the delegation maintained.
They also said that some newspapers have been facing discrimination while there is no fair distribution of advertisements. “Kashmir newspaper industry suffered heavily in 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2016 and yet government didn’t extend any helping hand. There is enough scope for the resolution of all the issues amicably.” (KP)
