Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 24: In what can be termed as murder of young talent, the Prasar Bharti is learnt to have directed the Radio Kashmir Jammu and Radio Kashmir Srinagar to close down their 40 year- old popular Yuva-vani services from July 1.
Separate communiqués in this direction from the Prasar Bharti were issued to Radio Kashmir Jammu and Radio Kashmir Srinagar in first week of this month notwithstanding imposition of Modal Code of Conduct in country in the wake of Lok Sabha elections, official sources informed the Excelsior.
Without specifying the reason for closing down the Yuva-vani services, sources said that the Prasar Bharti has also rejected the suggestion of Radio Kashmir Jammu to use the would be spare transmitter for airing its Primary Channel on FM radio.
The shocking move of Prasar Bharti is all set to deprive the youth of Jammu and Kashmir to display their talent in various fields of music, art, science and literature through programmes of Yuva-vani service.
Pertinent to mention that the Yuva-vani service was started by Radio Kashmir Jammu in March 1974 for providing a platform to youth below the age of thirty to display their talent in different fields and languages. In its eight hour service during the morning and evening, the Yuva-vani has been presently airing youth related programmes on music, career counseling, information, sports, education, art and culture in various languages, including Hindi, English, Dogri, Punjabi, Urdu, Gojri, Pahari etc.
Music based programme ‘Meri Pasand’, informative ‘Quiz Master’, ‘Mujhe Kucch Kahna Hai’- highlighting various problems of masses, literary programme in Dogri `Kayari’, `Phullan Di Changer’ in Punjabi are among the popular programmes, being aired on Yuva-vani service.
However, without specifying any reason, the Prasar Bharti recently issued an order directing the Radio Kashmir Jammu as well as Radio Kashmir Srinagar to close down their Yuva-vani services from June 1, 2014.
“Instead of full-fledged service, you can air one hour consolidated youth programme on the Primary service,” Prasar Bharti suggested in its communiqué to Radio Kashmir Jammu.
Since the Primary channel on Medium wave used to face break down of the service due to old transmitter, sources said that the Radio Kashmir Jammu authorities urged the Prasar Bharti to allow airing of its programmes on FM Radio by using the would be spare transmitter after closure of Yuva-vani service.
However, sources added, the Prasar Bharti not only rejected the suggestion but also directed RKJ to shift the Yuva-vani transmitter to Delhi after closure of Yuva-vani service.
Various political groups, intelligentsia and artists of Jammu and Kashmir have strongly condemned the Prasar Bharti’s move of closing down Yuva-vani service without any specific reason.
Up in arms over the move, S S Anand Lehar and Nidhi Kaila, chief patron and youth wing president, respectively of Nami Dogri Sanstha, have asked the Prasar Bharti to refrain from such anti-people action.
President of Duggar Manch Mohan Singh Slathia has termed the purported decision of Prasar Bharti as anti-Jammu, anti-youth and warned an agitation against the move. Duggar Lok Manch convener Hari Chand Jalmeria has taken a serious view of outgoing UPA Government decision on Yuva-vani and warned an agitation against the same.
Senior BJP leader and MLA Ashok Khajuria has also strongly opposed the Prasar Bharti move of closing down Yuva-vani service and said that the party State unit would convey its reservations against the same to Modi Government for reversing the anti-youth decision of outgoing UPA Government.
Panthers Party chairman and MLA Harshdev Singh also expressed his strong reservations over the alleged discriminatory move against the Jammu and Kashmir State and appealed the Prasar Bharti to reconsider its earlier decision of closing down Yuva-vani service.
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