Wahid Parra Alleges Bias in Govt Advertisement Policy, Seeks Urgent Review
Says Major Newspapers Like Greater Kashmir, Kashmir Uzma Ignored; Condemns Employee Dismissals
Srinagar, Oct 30, KNT: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) legislator Wahid Parra on Thursday accused the government of adopting a biased and selective approach in distributing government advertisements to media outlets, alleging that only a handful of publications are being favored while prominent newspapers are being sidelined.
Speaking in the Legislative Assembly, Parra said the existing media policy is being used as a tool to reward a few and punish others, and called for its immediate review in the interest of transparency and press freedom.
“Government advertisements are being given to selected newspapers, while the largest circulated daily, Greater Kashmir, does not even figure in the list of approved publications. Similarly, the Urdu daily Kashmir Uzma and several other prominent newspapers are being ignored. This is nothing but an attempt to choke free media,” Parra said.
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He further said that Urdu-language newspapers, which serve a vast readership, are being financially strangulated through deliberate denial of advertisements. “Many local newspapers are being choked systematically. Even Kashmir Wallah had to shut down, reflecting how media voices are being stifled,” he remarked.
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The PDP legislator as per the news agency Kashmir News Trsut urged the government to revisit and rectify the policy to ensure equal treatment to all registered and credible media outlets. “This government must review the media policy. The Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, also holds the Information portfolio, and he has the authority to initiate a fair review. Why are advertisements being given only to selected newspapers?” Parra questioned.
In the same speech, Parra also condemned the recent dismissal of government employees under what he termed as ‘flimsy grounds’, saying that such actions are unjustified and demoralizing for the workforce. “Government employees are being terminated without a transparent inquiry. This is a dangerous trend that undermines the sense of security among public servants,” he said.
Parra reiterated that a free press and secure public institutions are essential for democracy to function effectively and that any attempt to suppress either would only weaken public confidence in governance. [KNT]
