New Delhi, July 08: Viewing with concern the curbs on media by the Jammu and Kashmir government, the India chapter of the South Asia media commission today asked authorities to restore normal functioning of journalists in the violence-hit state with immediate effect.
“The restrictions of the type announced yesterday will only prove counter-productive. As we know from our experience of the emergency period, it will not serve any useful purpose either in the immediate or long-term context,” Chairperson of the India chapter of South Asia commission K K Katyal said in a statement here.
Expressing distress over reports of attacks on media services, he said, “right now the gap in the free media functioning may be filled by vested interests through rumour mongering. Later, those perceived to be responsible for the decision will be politically damaged”.
–Agencies