Newspapers in the Valley have decided to resume circulation after a four-day “ban” even as curfew and communication shutdown continued for the twelfth day on Wednesday.
The decision came after newspaper editors and owners held a meeting with Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti in Srinagar.
“The government is committed to the independence of the media and complaints of highhandedness against the press, if any, amid the prevailing situation will be looked into,” a statement issued after the meeting said. On the ban, Ms. Mufti said there was no deliberate attempt to impose any restrictions. “Whatever has happened, because of some communication gap, is regrettable. It will be looked into,” she added and assured “smooth movement of journalists and newspaper staff”.
Responding to the Parliament debate and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh’s statement, wherein he blamed Pakistan for the current turmoil, separatist leaders Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik in a joint statement said, “The remarks are baseless and an attempt to mislead people of India and the international community. New Delhi is trying to give legitimacy to atrocities of the forces.”
The Hurriyat leaders lamented that “instead of acknowledging and accepting the ground reality of Kashmir and its disputed nature, Indiacontinues to exhibit stubbornness and intransigence”. They also asked Ms. Mufti’s MLAs “to abandon her and come back to their people”.
A joint protest calendar issued by the separatist leaders has called for a continuous shutdown till Monday.
The separatists observed July 20 as ‘Black Day’ and hoisted black flags over residential complexes, commercial establishments and squares. Besides, a blackout from 8:30 pm to 9 pm was observed when all residents switched off power in their houses. The separatists also asked people to stockpile essentials during the relaxation of shutdown on Thursday, hinting at a prolonged protest programme.
Throwing his weight behind the separatist argument, mainstream National Conference (NC) additional general secretary Sheikh Mustafa Kamaal, in a separate statement, asked the Union Home Minister to look inwards and claimed “New Delhi was playing a dirty game in J&K and not Pakistan.”
“New Delhi has a fair share of involvement and Pakistan is a helping hand because it has an axe to grind in Kashmir,” said Mr. Kamaal, adding the Centre should accept United National Secretary General Ban-ki Moon’s mediation offer.
The NC has also decided to boycott the all-party meeting called by Ms. Mufti on Thursday. “Until a credible, effective and humane leadership is re-established in the State, this meeting will prove to be a meaningless exercise. The NC is unable to participate under the circumstances,” said a party statement.
