JAMMU: J&K National Democratic Party Indian (NDPI) Chief, Rajesh Gupta on Tuesday demanded loan waiver for editors who have started their newspaper in 2011 and published it till 2015-16 but deprived of getting the information department advertisements due to empanelment meeting of erstwhile state was never held in that period.
NDPI leader urged LG Manoj Sinha to intervene in this serious issue of the scribes who are known to be the fourth pillar of the democracy. They regularly published their newspapers for five years without any break and spent crores of rupees but of no use. As per the government rules and regulations a person who published his/her newspaper regularly for one year they were entitled for empanelment and start getting the information department advertisements. He said all editors who were not empanelled are financially in very bad shape due to bank debts and it is very difficult to make their both ends meet.
Rajesh Gupta further added that this is very astonishing that nobody has raised the issues of journalists who suffered a loss of huge amount of their loan and personal money. NDPI president said it is very surprising no media related organizations or any Press Club leaders raised the issues. He said LG should hold an enquiry in this issue that why empanelment meeting was not held and why editors were unable to get advertisements besides their proper documents.
NDPI leader saidç make the process of day-to-day work of the information department smooth and simple by incorporating suggestions of committee members.