Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, June 10: Opposition today accused Government of muzzling the press freedom under new Advertisement Policy and said that it is politically motivated.
The National Conference MLA while asking a question on behalf of party colleague Devender Rana during Question Hour, alleged that the Government had brought in the new Advertisement policy for newspapers with the aim of curbing the freedom of press. “The advertisement policy is being used to muzzle the press. It has been issued without consulting the stakeholders. The Government should review the policy,” he said.
While highlighting the hardships faced by the media in the State, Gul said that no newspaper is happy with the new Advertisement policy of the Government. He said the policy is aimed at muzzling the press freedom. He said that the advertisement policy should be either scrapped or reviewed and concerns of the stakeholders be addressed.
Education Minister Naeem Akhtar and senior National Conference MLA Mubarak Gul today exchanged heated words after the latter felt offended by former’s comment that “I should have read it (reply) in Urdu, instead of English”.
Akhtar while replying to the concerns of Gul said that the Minister has not read the reply or has not understood it. “I should have read it (written reply) in Urdu, instead of English”, he said.
The Education Minister said that the policy was issued under Governor’s rule and there is no question of political angle to it.
Incensed at the remarks of the Education Minister, Gul said Akhtar was not the only one who can understand and speak English. “I am a member of this House since 1983 and he is yet to be a member of this House. It is an insult,” he said.
Gul continued to target Akhtar for his remarks but it was not audible in the din as many NC and Congress MLAs rose to question the advertisement policy and created uproar in the House.
The Education Minister hit back at Gul saying he was challenging the Constitution of the State by questioning his membership of the Legislative Council. “He (Gul) is saying so many things about me as if Legislative Council is not a Constitutional body. He is insulting the Constitution of the State,” he said.
Nawang Rigzin Jora of Congress said the Government should roll back the advertisement policy if it threatens the Fourth Estate. “Media is the Fourth Estate and a vibrant media is necessary for vibrant and strong democratic institutions. You should look into the possibility of roll back or remove the clauses which are objectionable to the media,” he said.
In an apparent reference to Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti’s outburst against a section of media about Sainik colonies earlier this week, Jora asked the Government not to threaten the media. “You must not threaten the media”, he said.
Mohammad Yusuf Tarigami also raised the issue of new Advertisement Policy and said that it will have negative impact on newspapers. He said that the Corporation were making payments for advertisements as per DAVP rates but under new policy it has been changed to Information Department rates. He also demanded the advertisement rates be enhanced.
Ruling BJP leader Sat Paul Sharma also asked the Government to review the policy and take the issue very seriously. He said that the policy was framed during the Governor’s rule and necessary amendments be made and concerns of the stakeholders be addressed.
Vikar Rasool said that the rates for the newspaper advertisements should be fixed as per circulation.
Akhtar responded to the members saying “we have received representations on the Advertisement policy and the same are under consideration”. “Wherever needed we will take corrective measures”, he added.
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