Srinagar, October 01 (Scoop News) – J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Friday told Legislative Assembly that there was no direction from the government for stopping distribution of newspapers today.
Responding to a point raised by the legislators Harsh Dev Singh, M. Y. Tarigami and Hakim Mohammad Yaseen in the House before start of the Question Hour, the Chief Minister while refuting that raids have been made on printing presses and offices of newspapers said that it is totally wrong any newspaper office has been raided. However, he said that he will look into the issue of stopping the distribution of newspapers. He said that he will also see that no such hindrances are created any more.
“Soon the points were raised in this regard by the legislators in the House, I asked for details from the Director General of Police and other concerned. I have been informed that two vehicles carrying news print had been stopped at the Kothibagh Police Station in the early morning today for checking the print material to avoid circulation of any inflammatory matter. However, the vehicles have been allowed to move after making the necessary checking. I have been informed that this was done to prevent any untoward incident owing to the court verdict regarding Ayodhya”, he said and added that whether any such action was needed or not is being ascertained and a complete report from the concerned has been sought in this connection.
The Chief Minister regretted the hindrance faced by the journalists today to reach the Assembly due to heavy checking. He said the strict restrictions are sometimes imposed to protect the lives and property of general public and any inconvenience caused by such action is regretted.