Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Press Corps (JKPC) has expressed concerns over prejudicial and misleading video report by a Delhi-based website.
A meeting of JKPC was held under the leadership of Ayaz Hafiz to discuss the issue. Representatives of Rising Kashmir, Kashmir Observer, Kashmir Monitor, Kashmir Images, Daily Aftab, Morning Kashmir, Daily Uqab, Daily Gadiyal, Good Morning Kashmir, Kashmir scan, Era of Kashmir Srinagar Jung, Kashmir Rays, Kashmir convener, KNS, State Times and others.
The meeting strongly condemned the video report describing the reportage as prejudicial and malicious. They further asserted that the video report’s ultimate objective appears to disrupt the peaceful atmosphere in the Union Territory and malign the media fraternity.
According to the JKPC, the propaganda video seeks to subvert the narrative on Kashmir, falsely portraying the region as regressive and sans press freedom. “This is a deliberate attempt to falsify the ground reality and distort the true picture of press freedom in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly the Kashmir Valley,” the meeting concluded.
The JKPC accused the website of deliberately discrediting the mainstream media in Kashmir by labeling it a ‘Pamphlet’ and ignoring the hard work of reporters and professional journalistic ethics followed by the newspapers. The members emphasized that the content undermines the integrity of the local press and casts unfounded aspersions on the editorial policies of Kashmir’s daily newspapers.
It further said that the presenter is pained to see the media reports about the Prime Minister of India and the Home Minister on the front pages. Even if these lead reports are derived from the recent Jammu and Kashmir visits of the Prime Minister and Home Minister.
The JKPC members opined that the video makes it amply clear that it wants to foment unrest and is acting on the behest of the elements that derive pleasure from the violence and subversion in Kashmir. It wants to project Kashmir as the land of violence. It does not want the development and peace to be restored. Moreover, the JKPC observed that the website has the editorial policy of projecting Kashmir as a conflict zone when there has been an on-ground change after the abrogation of Article 370 and 35 A.
The JKPC asks the judiciary to take cognizance of this type of subversive reporting that wants Jammu and Kashmir again on the brink of conflict and is posing a threat to the responsible media that projects the real picture of peaceful and progressive Kashmir. Newspapers published in Kashmir have every right to analyze and frame their editorials on the issues that concern public interest and the territorial integrity of India. No one can gag the Kashmir-based newspapers and dictate terms to them when it comes to the freedom of the press.
“For more than three decades newspapers in Kashmir have been working as the guardians of human rights and democracy with utmost sense of responsibility. We appeal to the entire media fraternity across the nation to condemn the report and stand in support of the progressive media in Kashmir that is working tirelessly to guard the national interests and the press freedom in Jammu and Kashmir”, they added.
