CM Omar assures fair ad policy, denounces Govt mouthpieces
Jammu, Mar 20: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Thursday assured the House that his government would not resort to a ‘pick-and-choose’ policy in distributing advertisements to newspapers.
Without any discrimination, advertisements would be distributed in a very transparent manner, he said.
The CM was replying in the Legislative Assembly to the debate on the demands for grants for departments under his charge.
He also announced to enhance MLAs’ Constituency Development Fund (CDF) from Rs 3 crore to Rs 4 crore.
About guidelines, CM Omar said that the Department of Law and Parliamentary Affairs would be asked to implement MPLAD guidelines in the case of CDF.
Regarding salaries of legislators, he suggested the Speaker constitute a House Committee to prepare a structure on the pattern of Parliament for salary revision every five years.
ON ADVERTISEMENTS
The CM also addressed the concerns of the MLAs regarding the denial of advertisements to a few leading newspapers including Greater Kashmir in the past few years.
“We receive complaints regarding advertisements at regular intervals that a pick-and-choose policy is followed for their (advertisements’) allocation. On behalf of this government, I want to assure the House that no pick-and-choose policy will be resorted to, by our side. We will not discriminate against anyone on this account,” he said. “We will distribute advertisements to newspapers in a very transparent manner.”
In the same breath, CM Omar, while expressing concern over the mushrooming of newspapers, cautioned against the trend to act as a government mouthpiece to earn favours (advertisements).
“However, there is one point, which I would like to delineate here. Those newspapers, which only thrive on government advertisements, cannot act as newspapers or do justice with that profile because they will work simply to gratify the government. Our endeavour should be to make our media houses self-reliant. Through advertisements, we will just accomplish the task of hand-holding,” he said.
Pointing towards the disturbing trend of mushrooming of newspapers, the CM said that anyone and everyone at his or her whim was launching newspapers.
“Then what happens is that the copies of newspapers are only distributed here free of cost or placed at the tables but they find no buyers. What is the fun of that newspaper?” he questioned.
“Those newspapers which only publish government press statements on the front page and tell the helmsmen that their pictures have been splashed on the front, are not newspapers. These are nothing but the government’s press statements. Still, keeping in view the circulation and importance of newspapers, we will give them advertisements in a transparent manner,” CM Omar said.
ON ACCREDITATION
About the media accreditation applications, which were either not accepted or rejected, the CM stated he had instructed the Information Department to review all those cases and grant accreditation.
“If there are discrepancies in the applications, the applicants will be asked to rectify them and then applications will be accepted,” he said.
ON SRINAGAR PRESS CLUB
CM Omar reiterated his promise to revive the Srinagar Press Club.
“Jammu Press Club is functioning well, however, unfortunately, Srinagar Press Club has been given a political colour. It was working smoothly yet for reasons unspecified, the Press Club (body) was disbanded (annulled) and a parallel Press Club was set up. We believe that there should be one Press Club. Srinagar press (persons) should decide about its (Press Club) managing committee. They will be asked to hold the elections to the Press Club at the earliest. As and when their committee comes into existence, they will be provided with a structure (building) to re-establish (Srinagar) Press Club,” he said.
‘DON’T PEDDLE FAKE NEWS’
The CM assured the fraternity that no media person or publication would face punitive measures for bringing the bare truth to the fore.
“We want them (media persons) to make the government accountable and flag our shortcomings and make people aware of that. However, we are not ready to tolerate peddling fake news as ‘real news or facts.’ We appeal to them to verify facts before publishing any news. If they are correct, none will stop them. However, the selling of “fake news” as “news” is a disturbing trend. Problem is - it spreads far and wide before it gets corrected,” he said referring to recent “fake news” related to liquor vends.
“There was not an iota of truth in that news. It was a plain lie. But responsible channels, newspapers, and media houses have not even once tried to verify the facts from the government. Many of them have my number. Today they send me messages on one pretext or the other. But that day none asked me if the news about the government allotting new liquor vends was correct or not. I would have clarified the fact that even the already advertised vends were being re-auctioned. They all peddled fake news. So, I will just request them to take caution on this account,” CM Omar said.
‘LEGISLATORS’ INTEREST LIES IN CDF, SALARIES ONLY’
Taking a dig at the legislators, he said that they (legislators) were not interested in knowing about the progress of the new legislature complex or the video-conferencing project of courts.
“You (MLAs) are only curious to know about CDF and salaries. When we talk about raising the salaries of MLAs, this brings us embarrassment as it is read otherwise in the public domain as if we are only bothered about money and nothing else. But we suffer also on this account. Last time, our salaries were hiked in 2015. Those officers, who share status equal to that of MLA in terms of protocol, are, at present, getting Rs 3 lakh, excluding TA and DA but we are still stagnant at Rs 80,000, which is an injustice to us,” the CM said.
On this account, he suggested the Speaker constitute a House Committee comprising the Leader of the Opposition and the leaders of the main parties – NC, Congress, and PDP and implement the Parliament’s pattern which provided for salary revision every five years keeping in view inflation and related aspects.
“You do this and then I will manage funds to raise salaries. Pensions will also rise similarly. I am more bothered about pensions. This I realised after I became an ‘ex-MLA’. PAs’ salaries will be raised,” CM Omar said.
Regarding members’ concerns over CDF guidelines, he admitted the need to revise them.
“I will ask the department to implement MPLAD guidelines in case of CDF and also to ensure its early implementation. If needed, then amendments will be brought in later. We will sit together to decide on that, as and when needed,” the CM said.
Amid the thumping of desks, he also announced a hike in CDF from the existing slab of Rs 3 crore to Rs 4 crore.
However, CM Omar said that he would not be able to allow the execution of works without tenders.
“I will decide about guidelines with the department officials to see if small works can be done without tendering,” he said.
The CM also informed the House that the government had launched a video-conferencing project for the courts in J&K, mainly the High Court to facilitate virtual hearings.
“We will expedite this project,” he said.
