- Tarigami, Parra Lead Call for Transparent and Fair Media Policy in J&K Assembly
Srinagar, Oct 30: Lawmakers from across party lines in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Wednesday urged the government to introduce a new media policy that genuinely protects press freedom, ensures transparency, and provides equal opportunities for all media houses operating in the Union Territory. The demand came during the Question Hour on the fifth day of the ongoing autumn session, reflecting growing concern among legislators over the state of media independence and government practices in the dissemination of public information.
CPI(M) leader M.Y. Tarigami led the charge, describing the erosion of press freedom in India as a worrying trend that directly affects democratic accountability. He noted that India’s ranking in the World Press Freedom Index had fallen to 160 among 180 countries, a figure he said “should deeply concern every believer in democracy.” Tarigami stressed that freedom of the press is not a threat to national sovereignty but rather a pillar of democratic strength and transparency. “A democracy cannot thrive when journalists are constrained, publications are discriminated against, and citizens are denied access to truthful information,” he asserted.
He further pointed out that the arbitrary distribution of government advertisements and the lack of transparency in policy implementation had created an uneven playing field. “It appears as if advertisement allocation has become a tool of control rather than support. Many newspapers, especially smaller and independent ones, are being deprived of government ads without any explanation. This selective approach damages the very foundation of a free press,” Tarigami said. He called on the government to establish clear, objective, and equitable criteria for advertisement distribution and to protect journalists who continue to report from challenging conditions.
Echoing these concerns, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) legislator Waheed Parra accused the government of pursuing a “biased and exclusionary approach” toward the media. He alleged that Urdu-language newspapers, which reach some of the largest readerships across the region, are being deliberately sidelined through financial restrictions. “Several local publications are being systematically strangled. Instead of nurturing journalism, the policy is stifling it,” Parra remarked.
He urged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who also oversees the Information Department, to initiate a fair and inclusive review of the existing policy. “The Chief Minister has the authority and responsibility to ensure that all media outlets, big or small, English or vernacular, get equal opportunity to function. We are not asking for favours, just fairness,” he said.
Parra further emphasized that a vibrant and diverse media landscape is crucial for the credibility of governance. “The government needs the media as much as the media needs the government. A policy built on mutual trust, transparency, and fairness would strengthen both institutions,” he noted.
Independent legislators also joined the debate, urging the administration to adopt a more consultative approach while framing the new media policy. Some members suggested that the government should form a committee comprising representatives from both print and digital media to ensure that the policy reflects ground realities and is not driven solely by bureaucratic considerations.
The legislators underlined that journalism in Jammu and Kashmir operates under unique challenges, including geographical constraints, financial vulnerabilities, and security pressures, which necessitate a sensitive and supportive policy framework. They warned that continued suppression of press independence would not only hurt journalism but also weaken public trust in democratic institutions.