Journalists in Kashmir held a protest march on Tuesday against the State Government’s ban on a leading English daily Kashmir Reader. The district administration in Srinagar on October 2 served a notice to the newspaper asking the publisher and editor to stop the publication. The authorities said the contents of the newspaper tend to incite acts of violence and “disturb public peace and tranquility”.
A group of editors on Tuesday held a separate meetings with District Commissioner Srinagar Dr Farooq lone and Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, Bharat Bhushan Vyas to register their protest against the order to ban Kashmir Reader.
The editors have warned of direct action if the ban was not immediately revoked.
The newspapers published from Srinagar on Monday wrote editorials on the ban describing it arbitrary, undemocratic and without logic.
Amnesty International India and Commiteee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), a Washington- based organsation working for the freedom of the Press have also condemned the ban on Kashmir Reader.
“The newspaper has extensively covered the violence in Kashmir in recent months, and reports of human rights violations by security forces. The Kashmir Editors Guild (KEG) has described the ban as against the spirit of democracy and freedom of press,” said Aakar Patel, Executive Director, Amnesty Internationa, India in a statement.
“The District Magistrate’s order does not specifically mention any news items in Kashmir Reader that incited violence. This vaguely-worded shutdown order suggests that the newspaper is being targeted for its reporting.”
“The media plays a crucial role in reporting human rights abuses. The government has a duty to respect the freedom of the press, and the right of people to receive information. It cannot shut down a newspaper simply for being critical of the government.”
Under international human rights law, any restrictions on the right to freedom of expression on the ground of public order must be demonstrably necessary and proportionate.
The UN Human Rights Committee, which monitors the implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights – to which India is a state party – has said: “The free communication of information and ideas about public and political issues between citizens, candidates and elected representatives is essential. This implies a free press and other media able to comment on public issues without censorship or restraint and to inform public opinion.”
“Censoring the press will not put an end to the unrest in Jammu and Kashmir,” CPJ Asia Program Coordinator Steven Butler said from Washington. “The Kashmir Reader should be allowed to resume publication without delay.”