J&K government ad ban extended to ‘Kashmir Uzma’

Srinagar, April 2 (IANS) After banning government advertisements to two English newspapers of the Valley, the Jammu and Kashmir government on Tuesday extended the ban to the popular vernacular Urdu daily 'Kashmir Uzma', the Kashmir Editors Guild (KEG) said.

In a statement, the Guild said: "KEG regrets that while we were expecting the lifting of the ban on government advertisements imposed on 'Greater Kashmir' and 'Kashmir Reader', the government has added 'Kashmir Uzma' to the ban list.

"The ban, as usual, is unexplained and implemented without conveying it to the newspaper.

"The ban, as we have conveyed earlier, is continuation of the onslaught that the Kashmir media has been subjected to since 1989 in particular.

"The onslaught has led to untold miseries to the institution of media and the shaking of the faith in the institution of democracy.

"Interestingly, the ban came in the midst of the electoral process that is governed by the Model Code of Conduct.

"The Information Department has not conveyed the ban formally.

"The Editors are at loss to understand the wisdom behind the undemocratic decision making, especially at a time when electioneering is in progress.

"The Editors also conveyed to the larger media outside Kashmir that they should take note of the happenings in Kashmir seriously because it is also part of their business and their mandate."

The KEG is a representative body of 13 local English and vernacular newspapers including the widely circulated and respected English daily, 'Greater Kashmir'.

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