Srinagar, April 6: Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani has strongly condemned the “economic crackdown” on media particularly some leading newspapers from the valley and said that for the past so many decades every individual and institution here is paying a heavy price for the “historical blunders of its myopic and self-centered political stalwarts”.
In a statement issued to media, Geelani said the psyche of every individual here has been eroded; the essence of every institution and even our identity and existence is threatened.
“Throttling and curbing the media houses is part of the vast game plan by the fascist forces, using the mask of so-called democracy to destroy every fabric of it,” he said. “Those thumbing chest to uphold the fourth pillar of democracy are themselves the architects of the undemocratic assault on media.”
Like every institution, media people too have a strenuous and suffocating environment to carry out their professional duties and they too had to face a double edged sword from the last so many decades.
He said although front pages and lead news is usually reserved for authorities, still the sentiments of people managed to get some space.
“How pathetic is that after every unrealistic, undemocratic and unethical assault on the basic and fundamental human rights, our highest bureaucracy is there to bail them out, by their explanations,” he said.
Geelani accused Delhi of using its executive and constitutional might to disintegrate every institution of J&K including “our industries, agriculture, tourism, education, healthcare or politics, just to force us to beg them for help”.