Srinagar, March, 24 (KNS): A team of twelve members consisting of ten journalists and two officials of Haryana Assembly on Monday visited Press Club of Kashmir at Amira Kadal in Srinagar and interacted with the president of the club Mr M Saleem Pandit.

Headed by the chairman Mr Chander Shekhar Dharni, senior journalist of Haryana, the visiting group of Journalists and the officials of the Haryana Assembly discussed various issues regarding press freedom in Jammu and Kashmir particularly in Kashmir valley. The president/Patron M Saleem Pandit of the Press Club of Kashmir apprised the visiting team about the problems of the media in the Union territory being interfered by the new UT Omar Abdullah Government.

Mr Chander Shekhar disclosed that the team would be submitting the report to the speaker of the Haryana Assembly about the condition of the media in Kashmir.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel

Mr Pandit apprised the visiting team of the discrimination in the distribution of the government advertisements to the local newspapers by the current dispensation and thus the pushing the local media to become the Gudi Media of ruling party in the union territory.
The team also was briefed about the interference of the current chief minister Omar Abdullah in the affairs of the Press club of Kashmir, raising the issue at various forums, to scuttle the smooth functioning of the club. The visiting team was also informed that the current CM's last three generations have never encouraged the establishment of the press club in the Kashmir valley.
The visiting team expressed surprise about the interference of the Chief minister in the affairs of the Press club of Kashmir and denial to allot the suitable accommodation to the press club. (KNS)