Srinagar, September (KNS): A delegation of journalists called on Lt Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday and apprised him about the issues of media fraternity in Jammu and Kashmir.
According to KNS, the interaction which started at 5:30 PM lasted for about one and a half hour. Principal Secretary Information Rohit Kansal,Director Information and Public Relations Dr Sehrish Asgar were also present during the interaction. The LG in his remarks highlighted the role of media as bridge between people and administration and appreciated the positive role played by the Kashmir media in this regard. Today’s meeting is a realization and acceptance that media has to a role and responsibility to act as bridge between people and administration and can prove as medium for interaction between that two, a senior journalist quoted LG.
He assured the media that all his officers are available for the redressal of the grievances of people highlighted by the media.
The journalists raised the issue of hounding of media persons by security agencies for the stories, a journalist informed KNS, “We told him that of ever Government has an issue with a story of a journalist, he can clarify it before Director Information or Principal Secretary Information not before any SHO which is become a routine from sometime in Kashmir. ”
The Journalists also raised the lack of responsive administration to the stories filed by journalists.
“No one in administration responds to journalists queries or questions regarding a story he is working in. it has particularly hindered the work of journalists during Covid pandemic.”
The other issue which journalists raised are functioning of newspaper organizations and allotting of government advertisements to the local media outlets.
A thorough discussion was held on advertisement policy of government, media persons said . The Journalists also demanded the installation of a main gate on the entrance of the Press enclave, they informed LG.
The credit for such an extensive and detailed interaction with LG goes to Principal Secretary Information Rohit Kansal ,Director Information and Public Relations ,Dr.Sehrish Ashgar,” Journalists told KNS.
The LG assured the delegations that all these issues have been noted and “something good is in pipeline for media fraternity of Kashmir in coming days.
Meanwhile DIPR presser said a delegation of journalists called on Lt Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday and shared with him their perceptions about the ground situation in Jammu and Kashmir.
The delegation comprised members of Kashmir Editors Guild including Bashir Manzar, Kashmir Images; Bashir Ahmad Bashir, Srinagar Times; Masood Hussain, Kashmir Life;
JK Editors Forum comprising of Zahoor Hashmi, Aftab; Mohammad Aslam, Editor in Chief, KNS; President Kashmir Press Club, Shuja Ul Haq, India Today;
President Kashmir Editors Association, Rashid Rahee (CNS/Fajar); President J&K Press Association; Gh Hassan Kaloo, Mirror of Kashmir;
Hafiz Ayaz Gani ,Editor Rising Kashmir; Shamim Mehraj Kashmir Monitor; Nazir Masoodi, Bureau Chief NDTV; Khalid Hussain Gilani Bureau Chief Zee TV; Zeenat Zeeshan, Bureau Chief Republic TV; Mufti Islah, Bureau Chief CNN/IBN; Sanam Aijaz, Pr. Correspondent Gulistan TV and Shabir Ahmad Associate Editor News18 Urdu.
Journalists from National Media Association included Mohammad Salem Pandit ,Bureau Chief Times of India; Mir Ehsan Bureau Chief Hindustan Times; Tariq Ahmed Correspondent The Week; Bashrat Masood Bureau Chief, Indian Express; Zaffar Iqbal an accredited Journalist; Azan Javid, Correspondent, The Print.
The delegation also apprised Lt. Governor about various issues pertaining to media fraternity in Kashmir valley.
The Lt. Governor assured them of the government’s full support and sought their cooperation in building peaceful and prosperous Jammu and Kashmir. He told media persons that this is the first round of interaction and more such will follow as this process of having interactions with media fraternity will be a continuous one, the press statement said.(KNS)