Press Club of Jammu (PCJ) Tuesday on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day have adopted a unanimous resolution seeking free movement of journalists hailing from South Asian region to the neighbouring countries including Pakistan and Pakistan administered Kashmir for various reporting assignments.It is for the first time in Jammu and Kashmir that such a resolution has been adopted unanimously by the media fraternity.Kavinder Gupta, Speaker of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly , was Chief Guest and Dr Ashok Aima, Vice Chancellor of Central University, Jammu was guest of honour on this occasion.Kavinder Gupta said that there is full freedom of Press in Jammu and Kashmir State as well as in the country under article 19 and word Press should not be misused while doing any assignment. He said that there is mushrooming of newspapers in the state and they should maintain high standard of journalism.Dr Ashok Aima, Vice Chancellor, Central University, Jammu said that those youngsters who are adopting journalism as their profession, they should take it as passion, but not just to earn money.
KB Jandial, IAS, former Director, Information said that there is freedom for journalists to express their views, but media also should take special care of it as they cannot malign image of an individual/organization. Jandial also shared his experiences and agreed that many times when during his service as a Bureaucrat, he was assigned the tasks to handle media, if there was any unrest, but he was very particular in his duties.President of the Press Club of Jammu, Ashwani Kumar proposed if journalists from neighboring countries in South Asian region are allowed to conver freely under one roof it will help bridge the divide between the countries.He said the SAARC countries share a bond with each other and to further improve ties it is imperative for all the countries to take one step forward to forge cultural unity among the people by encouraging more people to people contact and promoting cultural integration.He said the SAARC countries should model themselves on the pattern of European union and declare the man made boundaries as irrelevant. Time has come for these National to open their borders for Reporters so that they can interact with cross section of people and highlight their grievances for early redressal.He said that decision on visa on arrival should be taken between India and Pakistan to those accredited and working journalists who are from J&K and Pakistan administered Kashmir.
Highlighting the importance of World Press Freedom Day, President of the Press Club of Jammu, Ashwani Kumar said, "Press freedom and access to information are essential to democracy and to sustainable development. Journalism helps make this so. Sometimes referred to as a “watchdog” of political and societal institutions, journalism is also much more: it demonstrates freedom of expression for society at large, it puts new questions on the development agenda, and it empowers citizens with information. It provides a context in which the diversity of cultural expressions can flourish. For all these reasons, strengthening the conditions for journalism is key to developing a culture of openness, access to information and fundamental freedoms.
To this end, World Press Freedom Day 2016 seeks to advance the right to information, press freedom, and the environment for journalism to done in safety. It resonates with contemporary global issues and opportunities. In this way, around the world, it should be possible for stakeholders to continue to take the Day to an ever higher level of visibility, relevance, and impact.
Senior journalist and Assistant Director, News Doordarshan, Sanjit Khajuria in his inaugural address said that freedom of press is required and necessary but media persons should be very particular while performing their duties. "We must see the national security and many other things very minutely, while covering or file any story," he added. Pawan Sharma, Bureau Head IBN-7 and Pardeep Dutta, Bureau Head of Times Now also spoke on this occasion. Pawan Sharma said that journalists are not free to write and there is total pressure from certain quarter’s. Pardeep Dutta said that journalists can play greater role in the society. M K Bangroo, former Bureau Chief, PTI said that it was because of struggle of senior journalists that Press Club of Jammu was established in Jammu and also gave vote of thanks.
The Secretary General of the Press Club of Jammu, Zorawar Singh Jamwal and Secretary( Finance), Dinesh Manhotra gave bouquet to Kavinder Gupta, Speaker, J&K Assembly and Dr Ashok Aima, Vice Chancellor, Central University, Jammu.Those who were present on this occasion included managing Committee members Ajay Bachloo, Deepak Khajuria, Vishal Bharti, Dinesh Mahajan,Surjeet Singh and Pawan Sharma.Prabodh Jamwal, Editor, Kashmir Times, SP Sharma, former Bureau Chief, The Tribune, and other senior journalists were present on the occasion. Students from the Central University of Jammu and Gandhi Memorial College of Journalism also participated along with HoD, Mass Communication and New Media, Prof Deepshikha Kotwal and Assistant Prof Bachha Babu. (CNS)