Kashmir’s business community has sharply reacted to the state government’s move to stop government advertisements to leading daily Greater Kashmir, saying that it is a “direct attempt to muzzle people’s voice.”
The government has stopped advertisements to Greater Kashmir and Kashmir Reader newspapers. The Kashmir Editors’ Guild Friday said it has decided to fight the “deliberate strangulation and subversion” of the institution of media in Jammu and Kashmir.
“It is most unfortunate part that government of India and state government are muzzling free press. Though they claim to uphold constitutional values but in Kashmir they are hell bent to destroy our local media which has already upheld truth. Government’s decision to stop government advertisements which is their right as a media institution is directly aimed at stifling our media which business community and civil society will oppose tooth and nail,” said chairman, Kashmir Economic Alliance, Muhammad Yaseen Khan.
Khan urged the government to resume advertisement flow to the newspapers in the interest of idea of free media.
The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has also condemned the attempts to interfere in the freedom of the press by exerting financial pressure.
“Kashmir media has been playing a significant role and we stand by them in these uneasy times reflective of attempts to muzzle voice of common people,” a KCCI spokesperson said, adding, it appeared to be a futile attempt to manipulate the news narrative.
“The media has been discharging their duties in very difficult circumstances and had always maintained the highest ethical and professional standards. The press community was being targeted for their neutral and unbiased reporting,” the spokesman said.
Chairman, PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Kashmir Chapter, Mushtaq Chaya said, “We condemn this move unequivocally and demand immediate roll-back of this decision barring advertisements to Greater Kashmir. Media in Kashmir has always played a positive role unlike the outside media which is hell bent to create unrest in the state. Government should ban those channels that are spitting venom against Kashmir rather than using dirty-tactics to muzzle our voices.”
Chief spokesperson, Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation, Farhan Kitab said business community stands with both Greater Kashmir and Kashmir Reader. “It shows the mindset of the governor administration that they are not ready to hear ground reality. Stopping advertisement to local media show their height of frustration. We condemn it and demand immediate restoration of advertisements to these news outlets.”
President, Jammu and Kashmir Hotels and Restaurants Association, Showkat Chowdhary also flayed the state administration for stopping government advertisements to Greater Kashmir. “GK is an asset for our society. By denying financial resources to it, government is showing utmost disrespect to the institution of media which has always upheld truth irrespective of constraint financial resources in Kashmir due to the pending resolution of Kashmir Issue.”
President of his faction of Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation, Bashir Ahmad Rather warned the state government that repercussion of muzzling press will be adverse.