Media continues boycott of Jammu & Kashmir House proceedings

Media persons Tuesday continued to boycott proceedings in the Jammu and Kashmir legislature in protest against assembly Speaker Mohammad Akbar Lone’s controversial remarks made the previous day.

Over 100 media persons were staging a sit-in outside the main gate of the state assembly demanding that the speaker “take back” his remarks about the media.

Lone had Monday said that the media “during the session” works under his control and that they will have to disclose their sources to him.

His remarks came after Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ali Mohhammad Sagar expressed his reservations about the “source-based stories” appearing in the media.

To this, legislator of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Nizamuddin Bhat said the media “works under the control of the Press Council of India”.

However, the speaker immediately responded: “The media during the session works under my control.”

This statement prompted an immediate walkout by the media in protest.

Minister Sagar and political advisor to the chief minister, Devender Singh Rana, along with some legislators tried to placate the media persons, asking them to resume their coverage of the assembly proceedings.

But the journalists remained adamant on their stand that the “speaker must take back his words”.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is expected to make a statement on the issue later Tuesday.

The budget session of the state assembly began Feb 23.