Jammu BJP neta ‘ warns’ Kashmiri journalists
Asks mediapersons to mend ways or meet same fate as Shujaat Bukhaari ■
Former J& K minister and BJP leader Choudhary Lal Singh warned Kashmiri journalists of meeting the same fate as their slain colleague Shujaat Bukhari if they fail to “mend their ways” over their reporting on the Kathua rape and murder case.
The Kashmir Editors Guild termed Mr Singh’s statement as “criminal” and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah said, “It seems Shujaat’s death is now a tool for goons to use to threaten other journalists.”
Addressing the media on Friday, Mr Singh, who was among two BJP ministers in the Mehbooba Mufti- led PDP- BJP government who were forced to quit for supporting the Kathua case accused, said Kashmiri journalists were creating the “wrong narrative” regarding the eight- year- old Muslim tribal girl’s rape and murder in Kathua in January.
He referred to Bukhari, who was assassinated by gunmen outside his Srinagar office on June 14, and warned journalists.
Former Jammu and Kashmir minister and BJP leader Choudhary Lal Singh has warned Kashmiri journalists of meeting the fate their colleague Shujaat Bukhari did if they fail to “draw a line of journalism and think about how to live”.
Mr. Singh who was among two BJP ministers in Mehbooba Mufti- led PDP- BJP government forced to quit for their allegedly siding with the accused in the gang- rape and murder of an 8- yearold nomadic girl in the State’s Kathua district earlier this year said at a press conference in Jammu that the Kashmiri journalists were creating a “wrong narrative” regarding the incident.
“They ( Kashmir’s journalists) have created wrong atmosphere about the whole case. Now, I would like to ask them to draw a line of journalism and think about how to live,” he told a press conference in Jammu. He then referring to the recent gruesome murder of ‘ Rising Kashmir’ editorin- chief Syed Shujaat Bukhari said, “Are they waiting for similar incident that has happened with Basharat? ( Basharat Bukhari is Shujaat brother and was a minister in the PDP- BJP government). It’s better to control yourself before situation gets worse. They must draw a line so that brotherhood in the State remains intact and we also join the journey of development.”
Mr. Singh’s statement has evoked strong reaction from various political parties and journalism fraternity.
Kashmir Editors Guild ( KEG) termed Mr. Singh’s statement as being “criminal” and said that it is a direct threat to the Kashmir media. “Invoking the brutal assassination of senior editor Shujaat Bukhari, Singh has suggested the Kashmir media to draw a line and to decide if they have to work the way he was working”, it said . It added that the BJP leader’s statement indicates that he holds some information about Bukhari’s murder and must be investigated.
“KEG reserves the right to lodge a police case against the lawmaker who, earlier as well, named a number of reporters for his fall from grace in wake of the Kathua probe, now in a trial stage. The CongressturnedBJP politician has seemingly talked on Kashmir media from a point of strength and possible information about the recent killing in Srinagar,” said the statement. It also said that the KEG is perturbed over the sluggish pace with which the investigations in Bukhari’s murder are moving ahead. It further said, “Kashmir media has survived hell at huge costs in last three decades. KEG will fight all the onslaughts aimed at preventing it from recording the contemporary history, honestly and objectively”.
They ( journalists) have created a wrong atmosphere in Kashmir. Are they waiting for a similar incident that happened with Basharat — Choudhary
Lal Singh,
BJP leader