Srinagar
A Sub-Committee of the Press Council of Indian (PCI) led by its Convener, SN Sinha called on National Conference Working President Omar Abdullah at his residence in Srinagar today. The visiting delegation discussed various issues and challenges faced by the media fraternity. The meeting was also attended by Senior National Conference Leaders including NC General Secretary Ali Muhammad Sagar, Chief Spokesperson Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, Provincial President Nasir Aslam Wani and Political Secretary to Working President, Tanvir Sadiq.
“A free and fair press is the bedrock of a healthy democracy and we should all endeavor to ensure the ethos of objectivity, press freedom and neutrality are upheld and maintained at all costs. The challenges faced by the media fraternity in Kashmir are greater and the role played by local journalists is commendable and exemplary. They have worked against all odds to discharge their professional duties with dignity, professionalism and inspiring courage”, National Conference Working President Omar Abdullah said.
The NC Working President said it was imperative to ensure that the reportage from Kashmir, especially that by the electronic media, is factual and free from any hyperboles, biases and prejudice as the wrong portrayal of evolving situations in Kashmir has a disastrous affect on our Tourism Industry and also takes us further away from the goal of peace. “The goals of objectivity and neutrality should be non-negotiable and we should all ensure we don’t add to the alienation – especially among the youth”, Omar Abdullah added.
