SRINAGAR: Legislation aimed at press censorship has been passed on August 23 in the Jammu and Kashmir state assembly by the ruling National Conference and Congress I parties even as 10,000 elite National Security Guard commandos were flown into the state.

There has been increasing antiIndia and pro-Pakistan activity in this Muslim dominated state.

Called “The Jammu and Kashmir Special press Bill 1989, it proscribes the punishment up to one year, along with a fine of Rs 10,000 to whoever contravenes, disobeys or neglects to comply with the directives under the act. Any offense under the act will be cognizable. It is scheduled to come into force immediately.

The bill empowers the state government or any authority to order in writing addressed to the printer publisher or editor of any publication to prohibit the printing publication or circulation in any newspaper of a document of any matter related to any subject for a specified period or in a particular issue of the publication.

The person against whom the order has been made is entitled to make a representation to the government.

The NSG has wide ranging powers including legal immunity for any actions taken by its members, including murder. Its commandos wear a Hindu religious symbol as their crest. All the operational members of this force are Hindus.

The state government said it recognized the “inalienable right of freedom of expression” but it was “subject to reasonable restrictions in the interest of the state and public order…”

Mir Mustaja an independent MLA had expressed his opposition to the bill on Monday. The main ‘opposition party Muslim United Front (MUF) have boycotted proceedings on Monday and Tuesday. The Bharitya Janata Party which has few members has yet to express its opinion on the bill.

The editorial of India’s largest circulation daily Indian Express titled “Defy it” said, “Dr. Farooq Adbullah’s announcement that his government would impose censorship on press coverage of terrorist and secessionist activities in Jammu and Kashmir is typical of a ruler who has not been attending to his work and the consequences of who’s neglect have begun to engulf both his domain and himself ..”

“The fact is that it is government’s that try to play down terrorist and secessionist activities and claim the situation to be under control, even when it is not. One has only to recall the early days of the trouble in Punjab to realize it. While the secessionist movement gained ground daily, the government not only dismissed press reports testifying to this and made reassuring noises it failed to take the action that the situation demanded, The result was the continuous increase in the strength of the secessionist and the intensification of the movement to the point where the government said it had to launch Operation Bluestar in Punjab and impose censorship on news from Punjab to save the situation. “How counterproductive the exercise was hardly needs to be labored now. Censorship invariably recoils on those who impose it..”

“Newspaper must fight this move. As in the case of Punjab, this paper certainly will,” the editorial concluded.

Article extracted from this publication >>  August 25, 1989