Srinagar, Oct 20 (UNI) Former chief ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti have strongly reacted to locking of English Daily “ Kashmir Times” office in Srinagar by Estates Department on October 19.
The department has recently locked the office of a local news agency 'Kashmir News Service' (KNS) which evokes condemnation by media organizations and political parties.
Vice president of the National Conference (NC) Omar said this was the reasons why some of the local newspapers decided to become government mouthpieces and print only government press handouts.
Taking to a micro-blogging site Twitter Omar said, “This explains why some of our “esteemed” publications have decided to become Government mouthpieces, printing only government press handouts. The price of independent reportage is to be evicted without due process."
President of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Mehbooba in a tweet said, “ Anuradha was one of the few local newspaper editors in J&K who stood up to GOIs illegal & disruptive actions in the state. Shutting down her office in Srinagar is straight out of BJPs vendetta playbook to settle scores with those who dare to disagree."
Omar and Mehbooba were reacting to a tweet by Executive Editor of Kashmir Times Anuradha Bhasin Jamwal yesterday which reads,“ Today, Estates Deptt locked our office without any due process of cancellation & eviction, same way as I was evicted from a flat in Jammu, where my belongings including valuables were handed over to "new allottee". Vendetta for speaking out! No due process followed. How peevish!"
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