Mir Mudasir
On Friday evening J&K’s Lt Governor; Manoj Sinha met a group of journalists of Kashmir and it was the first such meeting or interaction between the top representative of India in J&K and members of the fourth estate in which the journalist community not only managed to highlight the issues faced by the community in Kashmir but also highlighted the plight faced by the common people especially after revocation of special status of erstwhile state in August last year.
Since the J&K came under governor’s rule in 2008 and after the abrogation of Article 370 and bifurcation of the state into two Union Territories (UT) – J&K and Ladakh there has been complete disconnect between common people and the administration and it got further complicated when almost entire mainstream leadership was detained and three former J&K chief minister’s Farooq Abdullah, his son Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti were booked under stringent Public Safety Act (PSA), even the mainstream leadership got dejected.
With the appointment of new Lt Governor, Manoj Sinha who has remained himself a grass root level politician it seems the new Lt Governor is trying to build bridges between the administration and various sections of the society with a hope it would have some sort of good impact on the ground situation.
In his opening remarks with the journalists, Governor Sinha told the media persons he is new to this place and wanted to know about the ground situation from them which will help him to understand the situation for betterment of the people.
‘’I am new to this place and want to know from you about the situation and steps that needs to be taken for the people,’’ he told media persons.
Though most of the media persons highlighted the issues pertaining to the fraternity, however some also suggested that infrastructure related activities as well as Tourism need a booster dose which will help to create the job opportunities and boast the economic activities. The economy in Kashmir valley has been facing lot of stress during the past one year especially during the continuous lockdown.
President Kashmir Press Club, Shuj ul Haq conveyed the Lt Governor Sinha how newly introduced media policy by the J&K government has created sense of insecurity among the media persons working in difficult situations in Kashmir.
“The policy was framed for the journalists of the J&K, unfortunately the stakeholders (journalists) were never taken into confidence while framing the media policy.’’ Haq while demanding review of the media policy said that government should reframe it and take suggestions from the media persons.
‘’Even some bureaucrats could easily misuse this media policy against the journalists which will put the question mark on the entire policy.’’
Lt Governor Sinha, however, said he is not aware about the new policy which was introduced by the government during the tenure of his predecessor G C Marmu. The journalists also highlight how there is a media gag on information regarding Covid-19 as officials have been asked not to speak to the media persons.
“If government won’t give us details then how can we portray the real pictures of the incidents and the cases? At times we have to wait till late in evening for the information and official quotes, which is tiresome,’’ said an editor of newspaper.
An editor of a newspaper told the governor that the journalists in Kashmir is a very small community of 300 people and during last three decades 16 journalists were killed and scores injured in different incidents. ‘’We just want a free environment for reporting and if there is any problem in report the information department should seek answers from the media persons, not the station house officer or any senior police officer after all we live in a democratic country.’’
Even many journalists highlighted the plight of the common people how they are being harassed on the name of security and other issues. “Many common people at times feel so dejected after the harassment that they have no options left in their life. And government has to address the issue as the top priority otherwise things could further deteriorate.’’
Even a women journalist working with a national channel narrated her own experience how she faced problems while moving out during late hours in the name of security.
”These issues needs to be addressed if government is serious.’’
Being the first meeting, Governor Sinha told the media persons that he got the first- hand account of the situation of listening to them. ‘’I have already started travelling to different districts of the J&K to seek the feedback from the officials and people. I have already travelled to four districts and will be travelling to more districts of the J&K in coming days.’’
The meeting which was informal however didn’t discuss the political issues post abrogation of article 370. However, the new Lt Governor was keen to know how things could be changed on the ground, even many journalists told him there is complete disconnect between bureaucracy and the common people and they face lot of problems.
“The gap between people and the administration has further deepened after removal of abrogation of the article 370 which needs to be addressed.’’
Lt Governor promised the media persons that they will be meeting again in coming weeks or months and issues will be given a priority.
Meanwhile, the meeting of Lt Governor is seen as a good omen and it looks like the government is now trying to open channels of communications with cross section of society in J&K to give an impression that government is ready to listen to the plight and problems of the people.
Sinha first met business community of the J&K and now the journalists are an indication that more such meeting are in the pipeline. In fact a section of stakeholders in New Delhi feel that centre should take some soft steps in J&K to end the alienation which could prove harmful in future and appointment of a politician as a governor is seen part of the process.
Also it looks that now mainstream politicians are also allowed to move freely and National Conference has organized its first meeting of Political Affairs Group. Even though the PDP wasn’t allowed to organize the meet, however, the government should try to softened its stand and allow all the mainstream parties to resume its activities and also release the leaders who are still under detention including former J&K chief minister, Mehbooba Mufti who is still detained under PSA.
The political observers believe that the government should open channels of communications with the leaders of mainstream political parties and listen to their views which will eventually bring relief to the common people of J&K.
