Srinagar: Journalists gathered at a protest demonstration organised in Srinagar by the JK Media Guild against the J&K Government’s newly introduced “anti-media” Media Policy-2020. Reporters, photo and video journalists, and editors of Kashmir newspapers and news agencies joined the protest to demand the immediate withdrawal of the undemocratic policy.
About 100 journalists exhibited unity and unanimity against this onslaught on the media in J&K. The speakers on the occasion reminded the government of the sacrifices of journalists in the past three decades of turmoil in Jammu & Kashmir. The protestors said that they had been the victim of violence and arrogance from the state and non-state actors, but never compromised on the basic ethics of journalism, despite losing several of their colleagues to bullets from unknown and unidentified people.
Imtiyaz Ahmad Bazaz, General Secretary of JK Media Guild, said, ”If this policy is implemented, journalism in J&K will die a silent death.” He said that journalism cannot be allowed to be subservient to the whims and wishes of government agencies. “We are equally an important pillar of Indian democracy. Let us work honestly in an open atmosphere to serve the cause of a real democracy,” he said.
President of JK Media Guild, Mir Ajaz Ahmad, said, “The intentions of the government are clearly indicating an official gag to prevent us from reporting truth, but we will not succumb to these unholy pressure tactics. If this policy is not rolled back, we will fight the aggression at every level and even protest against this policy in Delhi if the need arises.”
The protesting media people dispersed peacefully with a resolve to continue the fight till the government withdraws its Media Policy-2020.

Reader correspondent