Hindu organisations condemned the action of the govt.to impose censorship on some newspapers

Scoop News July 02, 2010

Jammu,July 2 (Scoop News) –Joint forum of Kashmiri Pandit organisations represented by All State Kashmiri Pandit conference,Panun Kashmir and Non-Camp Migrant co-ordination committee in an extraordinary meeting strongly condemned the action of the govt.to impose censorship on some newspapers and consequently sealing the premises of these newspapers.The Government has all along remained a mute spectator to the anti-national and also communally inflammatory reporting from Kashmir but it can not tolerate anything that tends to show a true picture of Kashmir. It may not be out of place to say that hundreds of temples in Kashmir have been burnt, destroyed or desecrated over the years of turmoil in Kashmir. Majority of the temple properties in Kashmir have been usurped and appropriated and Government of the day have all along remained oblivious to this. The temple Bill for the protection of the temples in Kashmir could not see the light of the day due to the non seriousness of the Government and the present reported attack in Anantnag comes as no surprise in the current surcharged anti-national and anti-Indian atmosphere.

The meeting was attended by H.L.Chatta, General Secretary ASKPC, Ashwani Kumar Chrungoo, President Panun Kashmir, Virender Raina, National Spokesman Panun Kashmir, R.K.Raina,Senior Vice President ASKPC,P.L.Sudeshi and Smt.Pholla Kaul from Non-Camp co-Ordination Committee among others.

H.L.Chatta while speaking in the meeting said that the conditions in Kashmir are explosive and we would be putting to grave risk the lives of our youth who are being forced to serve in Kashmir and give an undertaking that they would loose their jobs in case they leave Kashmir under any circumstasnces.We make an appeal to the government to adjust these youth in the camp schools and other migrant establishments.

Ashwani Kumar Chrungoo said that the sealing of the premises of the newspapers in Jammu shows the double standards of the Government. The secessionists have been allowed to roam free all over the globe by the Government to propagate their anti-Indian views and now the chicken have come home to roost. Pakistan which is bombing its civilian population has the cheek to tell our foreign secretary to observe human rights in Kashmir .

Virender Raina while speaking on the occasion said that a sinister design is underway to somehow manipulate a sham return of a few hundred families of Kashmiri Pandits in order to undermine the genocide and exodus of an entire race. The economic vulnerability of KP youth is being exploited by putting draconian conditions that are akin to bonded labour.The present turmoil in Kashmir is too dangerous for any experimentation with the displaced community and the only solution for the reversal of exodus is to create a separate homeland in Kashmir where their is free flow of Indian constitution.

R.K.Raina while addressing the meeting said that an attempt is being made in Kashmir to blackmail India to concede demands like the withdrawal of Indian security forces, lifting of AFSPA and granting of autonomy to the state. Security forces in Kashmir are being demoralized and are being subjected to brutal attacks and without any powers to defend themselves as we saw recently. Nobody is there to protect the human rights of the security forces who have been subjected to threats of prosecution and victimization for carrying out their lawful duties.

The joint forum of Kashmiri Pandits has proposed a massive protest demonstration on 13th July at Raj Bhavan to awaken the government from its slumber.

Panun Kashmir, in a public rally at Nagrota Migrant camp, chaired by its convener Dr. Agnishekhar today strongly condemned the action of the state government in indefinitely suspending the publication of the three local daily news papers, The Early Times, The Shadow, and The Glimpses of Future. Their offices and printing presses too were sealed.While this desperate act of the government is reprehensible, at the same time, it vividly demonstrates the extent of frustration and the sheer negative approach of the Chief Minister to the criticism from the press on his government’s various omissions and commissions, the speakers told the gathering.

Amidst raising slogans against muzzling of the press by the coalition government of which Congress is an ally, the speakers termed it as equivalent to wrecking of the fourth pillar of the democracy which must be resisted, rejected and reversed by all lovers of democracy. Dr. Agnishekhar, the convener, expressed his total dismay on making a replica of the emergency era by suspending the publication of the three news papers in Jammu by the state government and even then, such draconian actions were not initiated against the press. He made it clear that every government is expected to show restraint with positive approach to the criticism from the press in respect of government’s wrongful actions, decisions and policies. Dr. Agnishekhar termed the action as blatantly unwarranted and unjustified and all the more shocking as this extreme action was ordered without sending any prior advisory, caution or even any notice to these papers. He said that Omar Abdullah has failed to project himself as a matured politician and not a short tempered one ,the likes of which was witnessed in 2008 when the Amar Nath agitation was at its decisive turn ,by speaking in provocative communal tone in the Parliament that not an inch of land would be given to Amarnath Shrine Board .It is the same Omar Abdullah who said that if it would have been under his purview he would never sign the file of Afzal Guru , the Parliament attack convict presently on the death row and that giving representation to any Kashmiri Pandit in the cabinet meant tokenism which he was totally against ,besides it was not compulsory.

Panun Kashmir castigates the government of Omar Abdullah for applying double standards, one for the vernacular press of Kashmir , a section of which is virtually the mouthpiece of the separatists and anti Indian elements and on the other ,for the ones published from Jammu , the publication of three of whom has been stopped by the government .It was held that the move tantamount to another act of discrimination, now against the Jammu papers, thus choking the voice of the upholders of democracy, truth and the freedom of expression.

Sangarsh Samati senior leader Brig. Suchet Singh in a press conference said that in view of current prevailing situation where in antinational forces are spitting venom against India and are carrying anti India banners and slogans. Our Govt. remained mute spectator toward these forces and it has crossed all its limits when last night between 11pm to 12 niight the Govt.ordered to sieged Jammu based three News Papers which were carrying the actual reports about present situation in kashmir valley, the agencies involved in it & the failure of our state govt. in protecting the lives of poor & inocents.

Leader of Samati said that it is a matter of shame for State Govt. that it has not banned all those Newspapers who are openly carrying Anti-India News & special articles in their editorials.The news papers those publish the photographs showing "Indians & dogs aer not allowed in Kashmir & Well to Mini Pakistan(Srinagar) are regularly funded by the State Govt.

Brig. Suchet Singh told reporters that being a part of Jammu province I appeal to all our Muslim brothers to support our movement as they did in 2008 during Shri Amarnath Land Agitaion. Our movement is a nationlist movement aimed to defete the anti-national designs of pro-Pakistani elements in J&K.

He said ,Security forces are being demorlised by the State and the Centre Govt. in Kashmir Valley. They are being victimised by the Separatist who are being funded by ISI. We demand that security forces be given free hands to deal with the mens of Terrorism in the Valley.

He appeal to the people of Jammu Province to support the Bandh call given by Samiti on 3rd of July and make it a complete succuss in the nation.

BJP State Spokesperson Ramesh Arora (Adv.) said that the BJP has fully endorsed and supported the Jammu Bandh call given by Sangarsh Samiti. He said the party appeals the public to understand the gravity of situation and make bandh successful.
Arora said this bandh call is to warn the government that free hand should be given to security forces while dealing with the militancy. He further condemned the ban on few print media newspapers and appealed the government that if they are really democrat they should stop irresponsible publication in Kashmir also. We are of the opinion that Shri Amarnath Yatra is a symbol of integrity of the nation and should continue. We appreciate the government decision that the Shri Amarnath Yatra will continue and full protection will be provided. But we are fighting proxy war for last many years and it is not law and order problem but problem of insurgency aided by Pakistan.
Arora appealed the peace loving citizens of Jammu that peaceful bandh should be there and they should maintain communal harmony at all costs as per the tradition of Jammuites. The need of the hour is that cases should be registered against the leaders making provocative speeches and Jammu and Kashmir be treated as one unit. Hence, we express hope that there will be complete and peaceful bandh as per tradition of Jammu.

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