SRINAGAR: National Conference MLA Tanvir Sadiq on Wednesday criticised the Jammu and Kashmir government for withholding advertisements from several newspapers, saying that denying them ads without citing reasons amounted to suppressing press freedom.
Speaking during the Autumn Session of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, Sadiq said, “Many newspapers are not given government advertisements. They are named anti-national for writing against government. The government should spell out the reasons for denying them ads for the past six to seven years.”
He added that the government should not restrict newspapers from writing freely, even if they publish reports critical of those in power.
Sadiq emphasised that a free press is vital for democracy and urged the administration to ensure a fair and transparent policy in the allocation of government advertisements.
