Jammu, Mar 20, (KNS): Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has ruled out any bias in the allocation of government advertisements to newspapers in Jammu and Kashmir, assuring a fair and transparent distribution process.
Addressing concerns raised by MLAs in the Legislative Assembly, Abdullah emphasized that selective advertising must end, warning that publications overly reliant on government revenue risk losing their journalistic integrity. “A newspaper that only carries press notes and my photograph on the front page is not a newspaper; it’s a mouthpiece,” he remarked.
Reaffirming his commitment to press freedom, the Chief Minister assured that no punitive action would be taken against media houses for fair journalism. However, he cautioned against misinformation, urging journalists to verify facts before publication.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel“Fake news spreads quickly, and by the time we clarify, the damage is already done,” he said.
Abdullah encouraged media houses to work towards financial independence while reiterating the government’s support in strengthening the industry. He also directed the information department to expedite accreditation applications, allowing applicants to rectify discrepancies rather than facing outright rejection.
Addressing the issue of press clubs, Abdullah acknowledged the smooth functioning of the Jammu Press Club but noted that Srinagar’s press body had become politicized, leading to its closure and the formation of a parallel club. To resolve the matter, he proposed that Kashmiri journalists hold elections to establish a legitimate press club. (KNS)