Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, June 24: State Government today said it is actively considering the establishment of a Press Club for journalists in Srinagar.
In a written reply to clubbed questions of Member of Legislative Councils (MLCs) Firdous Ahmad Tak, Ashok Khajuria and Ajatshatru Singh, Minister incharge Information said the process of identification of land for the establishment of Press Club in Srinagar is in progress.
However, the Minister said there is no plan with the Government to establish the Press Clubs at district headquarters. At present, the State has only one Press Club and that is at Jammu, the winter capital. The Minister incharge said the Government is providing housing facilities to the journalists as per availability and prescribed rules.
Raising the supplementary, the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) MLC, Ashok Khajuria urged the Government to construct a Press Colony for the journalists. “Give them a Press Colony… it won’t break Article 370,” he said. Replying to the supplementary, the Education Minister however, said there is no such plan but Government will look into.
“We will see… there are already demands from legislators for a colony,” he said. Another BJP MLC, Ajatshatru in his supplementary took up the matter of non-accredited journalists, who don’t enjoy facilities and concessions unlike their accredited counterparts.
Surinder Ambardar, the BJP MLC, in his supplementary demanded empanelment of newly establishment newspapers and magazines. To this, the Minister Akhtar said the Government is doing whatever it can in helping the newspapers “but we have to strike the balance”. He said while circulating advertisements the Information Department has to keep circulation of the newspapers and other fixed criteria.
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