The Press Council of India (PCI) has taken suo-motu cognizance of the statement issued by the Jammu Kashmir Press Association(JKPA) regarding alleged threat by former MLA Chowdhary Lal Singh to media persons working in Jammu and Kashmir.
Singh resigned from the PDP-BJP coalition government as a minister after he allegedly supported the Kathua rape and murder of a 8-year-old girl in January last year.
The local newspaper highlighted Mr Singh’s participation in rallies and protest marches demanding release of those arrested by police in connection with rape and murder.
President of the JKPA Ghulam Hassan Kaloo said on Tuesday that the PCI has taken note of the association statement regarding the threat of Singh to media persons working in the state.
He said the PCI has now summoned Fayaz Ahmad Wani, spokesman of JKPA, to appear before the Committee on February 14, 2919 at New Delhi.
The JKPA said Singh had issued a statement threatening scribes of dire consequences like that of Shujat Bukhari, who had fallen prey to the icy hands of death on June 14 last year. Bukhari was shot dead by unidentified gunmen near his office at Partap Park. The Media Houses were under the spell of gloom and reeling under the shock waves when Mr Singh came out openly with a statement which was pregnant with venom and direct attack on Fourth Estate. No doubt, his statement evoked large scale condemnation and both National and Local Dailies came out openly demanding legal action against Mr Singh.
Kaloo said it is gratifying that the PCI has taken cognizance of the diatribe of the ex-MLA and it is hoped that it will initiate appropriate action to safeguard the Fourth Estate against the onslaughts and threatenings in future.(UNI)