Several newspapers in Kashmir published a blank front page on Sunday, 10 March, to protest against the decision to stop government advertisements in two dailies, Greater Kashmir and Kashmir Reader.
Newspapers such as Kashmir Images, Kashmir Reader, The Kashmir Monitor and Kashmir Observer published a blank front page with the message:
“In protest against unexplained denial of government advertisements to Greater Kashmir and Kashmir Reader.”
The decision to run blank front pages was taken by the Kashmir Editors Guild (KEG).
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According to The Indian Express, the newspapers say they were told verbally by the J&K Directorate of Information about the government’s decision to stop advertisements.
“Kashmir Editors Guild regrets the continuous silence of governor administration over the unexplained and murky denial of government advertisements to two major dailies – Greater Kashmir and Kashmir Reader. In the last 15 days, we have repeatedly been asking the government to explain why this decision has been taken but there has been no response from the government,” KEG said said in a statement quoted by the report.
“The intervention has the potential of impacting the state and state of journalism in Kashmir. We consider the decision against democracy and in violation of free media that is guaranteed by the constitution,” the statement further said.
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and NC leader Omar Abdullah took to Twitter to condemn the Centre over the allegations.
Ex-CM and PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti also said that the decision should be viewed in the context of government’s attitude towards press and electronic media.
Last week, the KEG had asked the government to explain the reason for stopping the advertisements, IE reported.
(With inputs from The Indian Express)
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