Irfan A Mir

Srinagar, July 6 (KNS): Several journalists under the banner of "J&K Media Guild" Monday staged a protest demostration against newly drafted out media policy by J&K UT and demanded its immediate rollback.

According to Kashmir News Service (KNS), journalists carrying banners scripted with “don’t gag media, we are an equally important pillar of democracy”, “down with media policy 2020” etc, the protesters who were assembled at Press Enclave here, demanded its immediate rollback.

While terming the new media policy 2020 "anti-media industry, protesting journalists said the new media policy is aimed at gagging the journalists in Jammu and Kashmir. They said the government and those who chalked out the new media policy must understand that we are a pillar of democracy and importantly as equally as three other pillars.

“The media policy is against all newspapers, news channels and all other media outlets. The policy provides for informing the government and police beforehand before carrying any story,” said a protester, adding, “In case one fails, his newspaper registration will be canceled, FIR to be filed against him or he/she will be deprivd from government advertisements".

The protesters demanded an immediate rollback of the policy. “We don’t want to be a mouthpiece of the government. We should be allowed to carry out our professional duties in a free and fair atmosphere".

Notably the protest was first of its kind as no media association or union has so far released a statement against the newly drafted media policy which according to journalists is aimed at stiffling the voice of people. (KNS)