Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Oct 30: Lawmakers in the Legislative Assembly today demanded that the Government should review the existing media policy and introduce a new one that ensures press freedom, transparency, and equal opportunities for all media outlets.
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The issue was raised during the Question Hour on the fifth day of the ongoing autumn session, drawing strong concern from both opposition and independent legislators.
CPI(M) leader M Y Tarigami said that India’s press freedom has witnessed a steady decline over the years and called on the Government to take corrective measures. “Our country is known as the world’s largest democracy, but one of its most important pillars, the media, is weakening. In 2022, India ranked 150 among 180 countries in the World Press Freedom Index. Now it has slipped further to 160, which is very low,” Tarigami said.
He stressed that a society where the freedom of the press is weak benefits only disruptive and divisive elements. “The issue of press freedom is not in conflict with national sovereignty. Rather, it strengthens national unity and institutional accountability. If reports and information are not made public, how will people trust their institutions?” he asked.
Tarigami criticised the Government for lacking transparency in advertising practices, saying that many publications were being denied advertisements arbitrarily.
The CPI(M) leader also urged the Government to protect journalists and support their work. “Reporters bring Government activities to the public. They should be encouraged, not harassed. We must ensure press freedom, protect our journalists, and introduce a transparent media policy that clearly defines advertisement eligibility,” he added.
Joining the issue, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) legislator Waheed Parra accused the Government of adopting a “biased and selective” approach in distributing advertisements, saying that only a few favoured newspapers are being rewarded while prominent publications are sidelined.
He alleged that Urdu-language newspapers, which serve a vast readership, are being deliberately targeted through financial strangulation. “Many local newspapers are being choked systematically.”
Parra urged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who also holds the Information portfolio, to order a fair review of the policy. “This Government must review the media policy. The Chief Minister has the authority to initiate a fair review. Why are advertisements being given only to selected newspapers?” he asked.
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