Local Media Barred From Covering Water Sports Event in Srinagar

Water Sports in Srinagar: Sports Council told us to invite few media persons only, because of Covid-19 protocols and due to lack of proper Space’ says DIPR

‘Invitation for media organization to cover any Government event comes from DIPR’ Says Coordinator Sports Council, Kashmir

Local media organization of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday was neither invited nor allowed to cover the Water Sports Festival organized by Sports Council, which was co-inaugurated by Lt Governor Manoj Sinha along with Union Minister of State for Sports Kiren Rijiju at Dal Lake in Srinagar.

Water Sports in Srinagar

As the Government of India has always stressed upon the role of local media in promoting Tourism, sports, culture and tradition of Kashmir as well as boosting youth to opt for vibrant lifestyle; it is unfortunate and quite appropriate to say that the concerned officials of the event did not ponder upon the importance of the presence of local media organizations at the Water Sports Festival.

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Reports reaching to Kashmir News Bureau revealed that only few selected media organizations were officially invited to cover the event, which certainly raises a question of biasness as well as undermines the role and impact local media organisations can have over the masses, especially the youth.

Talking to Kashmir News Bureau, Director Information and Public Relations, J&K, Rahul Pandey said that local media was covering the event on a separate boat but will have to confirm if anyone was barred from covering the event or not.

He added that maybe the number (of local media invited to the event) was constrained but will have to confirm.

Afterwards KNB received a call from an official of the Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) and who told us that the sports council had only stated names of few news agencies, which were allowed to cover the event.

He said, “The Sports Council had directed us to invite few people only, because of the Covid-19 protocols and due to lack of proper space.”

As per the official, only a few media origination were mention by Sports council on the invitation list.

To confirm the same, Coordinator of Sports Council, Kashmir, Mubashir, who said that the invitation for media organization to cover any government event comes from DIPR.

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KNB confronted him with the statement given to us by an official of (DIPR), after which he said that if they (Sports Council) had issued any communiqué, they would be aware of it.

He added that hence the event was on a water body, they (Department of Information), itself might have limited the number of media organizations to cover the event for safety reason, availability of boats, etc.

Refuting that the Sports Council had issued the Media invitation for covering the event, Mubashir said, “It is good for us that many media organizations would cover the event, so why wouldn’t we want that.”

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He further said that he’ll find out where the communication gap (between the Sports Council and DIPR) has taken place. (KNB)

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