KL NEWS NETWORK
SRINAGAR
Delhi, and may be Nagpur as many people now think, is more important in J&K governance than Srinagar could ever be. This was demonstrated by the ongoing situation in which already more than 40 people were killed and nearly 1800 injured.
For different reasons, three IAS officers expressed their serious reservations over the impact of, what various TV channels, were airing about Kashmir. One top IAS officer who holds a very senior position suggested that the situation is being pushed towards deteriorating by at least three TV channels which have been airing questionable commentaries on the situation.
It was followed by another IAS officer, Shah Faisal who topped the competitive exam in 2010. He had personal issues as he was wrongly being pushed to a comparison with Burhan Wani, slain militant commander. He posted an angry commentary on his Facebook page even indicating quitting the service. He later proceeded on leave and flew to US for a fortnight.
Almost coinciding with Shah’s commentary came another letter that also used the Facebook as its courier. This time it is IAS probationer Yasin Choudhary from Pir Panchal Valley.
A young cable man, he wrote a letter to his friends in the Indian mainland suggesting them that they should avoid listening to what certain TV channels are airing on Kashmir.
Given the fact that the critique of a section of India’s electronic media was coming from the people who manage J&K for Delhi, many expected that government might use its influence to make debates on these channels less provocative. Their commentaries had already added sort of insecurity to the local correspondents who have been reporting Kashmir but lack any control over the commentaries that their organizations air. In fact, vested interests managing the hospitals used this alibi to marshal the entire media regardless of who was working for whom.
But how government reacted was not different from the ‘standard operations procedure’ it has evolved over the years.
It withdrew the cable TV for almost a day. Fearing that since the TV was engaging people during curfew, withdrawing it might push more youth on streets, the government asked for immediate restoration of the service. They were asked to exclude all the TV channels of Pakistan.
Its follow up was more interesting. The police were asked to raid the printing presses and seize all the newspapers. Later on the weekend, when newspapers sat to discuss the issue, they asked government of its plans. Government, perhaps for the first time conveyed officially, that newspapers will not be permitted for next three days!
Right now when Kashmir is without newspapers for the second consecutive day, media has not gone on holiday. All are working and everybody is on the beat. Kashmir media has covered its own conflict with highest degree of professionalism without missing even a single instance. It will continue to do so.
Post Script:
Please avoid disrupting the movement of media persons especially in the hospitals. Let them work, the way they want.
