Indian Journalists Union (IJU) is very much anguished over the development
Indian Journalists Union (IJU) is very much anguished over the development
The act of the administration of the Jammu and Kashmir to cancel the lease to the Kashmir Press Club in Srinagar, the largest body of journalists in the region has left the fraternity of journalist across the country shocked and the Indian Journalists Union (IJU) is very much anguished over the development.
The developments leading to this closure betray a pattern. First the Press Club was asked to register afresh. After the process was completed suddenly the new registration was put on hold by the administration citing some adverse reports from police. Thus the Press Club has been prevented from holding elections to the governing body giving scope to some self appointed journalists to claim takeover albeit illegal.
After bifurcation of the State of Jammu and Kashmir the region has been experiencing erosion of free space in almost all spears and the latest instance of the closure of Kashmir Press Club is the most ominous. At a time when journalists in the region are feeling suffocated closure of the only body which can raise voice on behalf of them does not augur well for the administration in its efforts to win over the public.
The Indian Journalists Union requests you to please order immediate restoration of the Kashmir Press Club which will go a long way not only in safeguarding the media freedom but also in maintaining harmony in the region.
Thanking you
K Sreenivas Reddy
President
Former Member, PCI
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Balwinder Singh Jammu
Secretary General,
Former Member, PCI