Kashmir Press Club held a meeting at the club in which all editors’ bodies and journalist associations unanimously demanded the restoration of internet services to the media fraternity in the Valley without any delay.
Kashmir Press Club, Kashmir Editors Guild, JK Editors Forum, Kashmir Union of Working Journalists, Kashmir Working Journalists Association, Kashmir Press Photographers Association, Kashmir Journalists Association, Kashmir Video Journalists Association, Kashmir News Television Journalists Association, Journalists Federation of Kashmir and Anjuman-e-Urdu Sahafat discussed the prolonged and unprecedented internet shutdown completing 150 days, said the KPC statement.
“It was observed that the clampdown on the internet has severely crippled the functioning of media fraternity in the Valley,” it said.
The statement said that the participants were of the view that the government has deliberately muzzled the press to control the flow of information which has equally impacted the readers who have the right to know facts. The gag has adversely affected the ground reporting and newsgathering operations.
“ It has now become untenable for journalists and media organisations to operate out of the makeshift media facilitation centre which is inadequate to accommodate reporters, editors, photojournalists and video journalists of over 200 publications and scores of bureaus,” said the statement.
The meeting demanded the government lift the communication gag and allow free and unconditional access to the internet. To remind the government of its role in ensuring freedom to the fourth estate, the participants unanimously asked the government to take all measures to ensure the right to free speech and free expression, it said.
To highlight their plight and press for the restoration of internet, it was decided to hold a series of events which include seminars, silent and peaceful protests and suspension of publications, said the KPC statement.
