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| As PM Modi talks about freedom of press, Early Times faces state oppression | | |
Early Times Report
Jammu, Nov 14: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken the corrupt head on by scrapping Rs 500/ and Rs 1000/ notes. His bold move has pushed the corrupt bureaucrats and the politicians to the wall. He has taken a step which a few strong leaders in the world have courage to take. He has made his intentions clear that he would not worry even about his own party men when it comes to taking extraordinary steps against those who have created huge assets disproportionate to their known sources of income.
The Prime Minister Modi has been talking about the freedom of media and it being strong and vibrant. He has been claiming that since the day BJP led NDA government has taken over the reins of the country media has been empowered and encouraged as he believes that free and vibrant media could play a "big role" vis-à-vis development of the country.
The Prime Minister Narendra Modi during an election rally in Uttar Pradesh on Monday said that previous UPA regime led by NDA had converted entire country into a jail for 19 months and censored the media, but his government believes in free and lively media which has to act as a mirror for the society.
There is no doubt about the fact that PM Modi is a strong leader and he is a statesman, but his party leaders and allies can't match his competence and courage. They are still following the footsteps of their predecessors when it comes to giving space to media and facing criticism. In Jammu and Kashmir his party, BJP, shares power with PDP. Since the day BJP and PDP have come into power in JK they have ensured that ET gets government advertisements only for name sake. This step has been taken to make Early Times fall in line and become the spokesman of the government.
Early Times since its inception has been an eyesore for the people in power as it has emerged as the strong voice of people. It does not believe in appeasing the mantris and babus. The erstwhile NC-Congress regime left no stone unturned to turn ET into its mouthpiece but we didn't succumb. From harassing staffers to closing down our office and blocking advertisements, previous regime led by Omar Abdullah tried all the ways and means to muzzle our voice but we remained steadfast on our resolve and kept on bringing truth to fore.
After the change of guard in Jammu and Kashmir in 2015 and with PDP-BJP coming to power we had expected that government's policy to crush ET which sides with truth would change but unfortunately new rulers followed the footsteps of the previous regime and didn't change its attitude towards this newspaper. To make ET suffer the state run Information department first curtailed the government advertisements and then at behest of the PDP-BJP ministers has been releasing a few centimeters advertisements just for the sake of records.
BJP leaders who rode high on Modi wave and won 25 seats in 2014 assembly elections from Jammu region turned dictators soon after winning the polls and made desperate attempts to make ET dance to their tunes but they couldn't succeed.
In Modi's free India there is a state called Jammu and Kashmir, where politicians from his party want ET to praise them and write big essays highlighting their achievements. They cannot tolerate criticism and dissent nor do they want to face the truth.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intentions cannot be doubted since he neither has a family nor relatives for whom he would want to create assets but his repeated statements on freedom of press and government's quest to make fourth state more powerful have been rendered meaningless by his own people. Early Times has been bearing brunt of state oppression for more than past 10 years. Early Times has been facing every adversity with bravery.
Between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Early Times, one thing is common that both have taken on the people sitting at the top, running the show and ruining the state.
Early Times has courage to speak the truth without worrying about separatist friendly bureaucrats and ministers who have misused their official positions on many occasions to prevent ET from reporting the truth.
Despite ET having circulation and acceptance advertisements have been stopped deliberately even in PM Modi's rule, who wants truthful people to keep a watch on the activities of the people in power.
We have no hesitation in saying that the Information department expects us to behave as an extension of the state and not an independent media house.
We faced the worst times during the NC-Congress coalition government in the state. They not only curtailed our freedom but tried to bring down the institution as a whole. They used police and administration to harass and intimidate management of the Early Times.
Business units of Early Times were sealed and police was sent to the office of newspaper with lock and key. The staff was abused and kicked in full public view. Entire state machinery was used to silence Early Times which was at that time reporting exclusively on the increasing extremism and fanaticism in Kashmir. The then government headed by Omar Abdullah used several departments to either force Early Times to crawl or at least ensure that it stops criticizing the state for its failures and wrongs.
The incumbent PDP-BJP regime seems to have developed strong dislike for dissent. We are anti-establishment to the extent of highlighting shortcomings and wrong doings of the state and its various departments. We are against corrupt and black-money hoarders. We have made it our mission to voice issues, concerns, problems and grievances of the commoners. This seems to have not gone well with the establishment which expects us to become its voice and stop speaking for the common man. We report whatever positive the state government does but it's our duty to keep the state government on toes and ensure that every penny that reaches Jammu and Kashmir is utilized for the development and progress of the state. As a newspaper, we should not be expected to become a propaganda tool of either the state or any political party.
How could we not be part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's drive against the corrupt and nepotist elements in Jammu and Kashmir? We had anticipated change and now expect Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure that fourth estate enjoys the independence that he always talks about.
Let Prime Minister Narendra Modi crack whip in J&K also so that those who are trying to destroy the fourth state are taken to task.
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