Srinagar, Apr 16: The President and Patron of the Press Club of Kashmir, M Saleem Pandit, has received multiple complaints from journalists affiliated with various media organizations, particularly from the Pulwama district and Sonawari regions of Bandipora district.
These complaints express deep concern and disappointment over the recent mistreatment of media personnel by certain functionaries of the ruling party, reads a statement issued to the INS.
In a formal communication addressed to the Press Club of Kashmir, the Sonawari Journalists’ Association reported an unfortunate incident involving NC MLA Hilal Lone.
The association stated that MLA Lone, despite inviting media professionals through his personal assistant to cover an official event in Sonawari on April 16, 2025, behaved in a hostile manner toward several journalists at the venue.
Zahoor Ahmad Bhat, a journalist with Gulistan News and President of the Sonawari Press Corps, reported that MLA Hilal Lone not only rebuked a member of the press without provocation but subsequently directed his anger toward other journalists present at the event.
The association condemned this conduct as “unacceptable” and stressed that such actions display a lack of respect for the freedom and dignity of the press.
In a collective decision, the Sonawari journalists boycotted the event and issued a public statement denouncing any form of intimidation or verbal abuse aimed at media professionals.
The association highlighted that such treatment directly undermines the role of a free press in a democratic society.
In another similar incident reported from Pulwama, the District Information Officer allegedly failed to invite bona fide journalists to cover the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s inaugural function on April 15, 2025.
The Pulwama Journalist Group has expressed their disappointment over this exclusion, calling it an attempt to restrict press coverage of public events.
Taking serious note of these incidents, M Saleem Pandit stated that such behaviour constitutes a direct assault on press freedom. He urged the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to take cognizance of these events and bring the matter to the attention of the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah.
Pandit further emphasized the need to sensitize and train first-time MLAs and government officials to uphold democratic values and to treat media professionals with the respect and consideration they deserve.
