Why only J&K? Opposition questions Omar government's order to 'verify' journalists

SRINAGAR: The J&K opposition questioned Wednesday the motive behind the National Conference-led government's exhaustive identification checklist for journalists, demanding to know if the new rules meant to "monitor and restrict media" were being selectively enforced in only one part of the country."The election in J&K was meant to restore trust and dignity, not to replace one silence with another. People did not vote for control; they voted for the right to speak without fear. One of the loudest promises made was to scrap the media and social media gag policy…What is the chief minister's stand on this?" PDP legislator Waheed Parra said.DIPR has asked media personnel to submit a long list of documents, including Aadhaar card, PAN, official ID, affiliation or appointment letter from their respective media employers, salary statement for the last six months, academic certificates, and details of the digital platform they own or work for.

They are also required to share links to their media platforms, Facebook page, YouTube channel, X (Twitter) account and Instagram page, if available.Parra said CM Omar Abdullah, who retains the information portfolio, must clarify the purpose behind the latest directive. "Using vigilance and monitoring as a pretext to intimidate journalists and police public expression exposes a deeply disturbing intent to control narratives, muzzle truth and drag J&K further into x surveillance.

H&K deserves openness, not oppression; transparency, not targeting."The DIPR circular was issued on Nov 1 after legislators took exception to a section of the media circulating videos showing them browsing their phones during assembly proceedings.All district information officers have been asked to ensure "heightened vigilance and coordinated action to identify fake journalists". The DIPR circular suggests some people may have been "misusing media for blackmail, extortion, coercion of officials, and circulation of unverified and defamatory material against public institutions and officers".