Journalists hold sit-in at Press Enclave, call it ‘press emergency’
In an unprecedented move, the clueless PDP-BJP government has now enforced information blackout across Kashmir by raiding newspaper offices in bid to threaten them to suspend their publications and also banning the Cable TV in Valley areas—the moves which have evoked severe criticism from the stakeholders.
According to reports, many newspaper printing presses were raided, leading to forced suspension of newspapers’ publication.
On Saturday, owners and editors of several Kashmir-based newspapers held a sit-in at Press Enclave here, condemning in strong words what they called the imposition of “Press Emergency.”
Holding placards, the participant editors, reporters said: “An emergency meeting of Kashmir-based newspaper editors/owners was held on Saturday afternoon in which the situation arising out of the police raids on all the printing presses was discussed threadbare”
They strongly condemned the action of the government which has resulted in breakdown of circulation of newspapers.
The participants termed it as an attack on freedom of press and vowed to “fight it back at all costs”.
A joint statement from editors/owners later said: “A government spokesperson when contacted during the meeting conveyed that ‘in view of apprehensions of serious trouble in Kashmir Valley in next three days aimed at subverting peace, strict curfew will be imposed and movement of newspaper staff and distribution of newspapers will not be possible’.”
Taking the government’s statement into consideration, the meeting felt that it is not possible to publish the newspapers in such a situation, the statement read.
The editors apologized to the readers for the breakdown of newspaper publications which is beyond their control.
The meeting strongly condemned the formal ban, saying “it is not only reprehensible but also against the norms of a democratic set up.”
The editors assured the readers that as soon as the government lifts the “press emergency”, “we will resume our publications”.
Hawkers in Lal Chowk here alleged that the police did not allow them to distribute the newspapers and seized their copies.
Meanwhile, authorities have also banned cable TV in several areas of Kashmir.
The mobile phone service was banned from Thursday evening itself, while the mobile internet was banned from Friday evening (July 8).
