Govt may lift ban on ‘Kashmir Reader’

Amir Karim Tantray

Tribune News Service

Jammu, November 20

The J&K Government is likely to revoke the ban on printing and publication of “Kashmir Reader” newspaper in a couple of days as different agencies and departments have given it feedback recommending it.

“We are hopeful that the government will lift the ban on the newspaper on Monday or Tuesday and after that it will be allowed to resume its publication,” said a source in the government.

There are views within the government and the administration that the ban on the Srinagar-based daily had dented the image of the government and was being seen as an act of stifling freedom of speech in the state.

Sources in administration told The Tribune that before the ban order, the newspaper was served several notices to mend its ways and not to publish news items which could incite violence in the state, especially in the Valley. “The proprietor and the editor of the newspaper even agreed to follow the directions and work accordingly but they continued publishing such items which forced the government to ban the publication of the newspaper,” they said.