CM Mehbooba Mufti had earlier clarified to Union Information and Broadcasting Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu that no ban has been imposed on the publication of newspapers in the troubled state. “She assured that there will be no interference from the government side in the functioning of newspapers, so we have chose to resume publication from today”, Rashid Makhdoomi, printer and publisher of the largest English daily, Greater Kashmir, told The Citizen.
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“Just saying that it was some “miscommunication” is not enough”. Though the situation in the Valley remained by and large peaceful with no major untoward incident reported from anywhere since Tuesday, 56-year-old Ghulam Mohammad Mir, who was injured in a firing incident at Hatmulla in Kupwara district of north Kashmir on July 15, succumbed to his injuries at SMHS hospital here, officials said. “They asked Mr. Mattoo that the government must own the ban and issue a statement guaranteeing that media operations are not being hampered from the movement of staff, to newsgathering, printing and the distribution of the newspapers”.
Jul 20, 2016- Authorities in Indian-administered Kashmir have lifted a ban on publication of newspapers.
The newspaper editors and owners said “we will review the progress today (Wednesday)”, they said.
The journalists also held a protest against the clampdown, terming it as an attack on the freedom of press and stopped their publications. The chief minister, at the same time, made a fervent appeal to all sections of the media to contribute towards normalisation of the situation and return of peace in the Valley.
The Chief Minister said the State Government is committed to independence of media at all costs and complaints of highhandedness against the press, if any, amid prevailing situation will be looked into.
Mehbooba chaired the meeting, which was also attended by several ministers including deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh, leaders from opposition Congress, independent MLAs and leaders of other political parties in the state.
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“It is extremely unfortunate that although the CM saw it fit to call a meeting of civil society in Srinagar within days of protests breaking out, it has taken nearly two weeks to call a meeting of all political parties”, said party spokesman. “We have not heard anything from anybody in the government since then”.
