MLA questions suspension of advertisements to Greater Kashmir newspaper

Srinagar, March 20: MLA Shopian, Shabir Ahmad Kullay, on Thursday questioned the suspension of government advertisements to three prominent newspapers of Jammu and Kashmir including Greater Kashmir, in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly.

Participating in the discussion on demands for grants for the departments under the Chief Minister, Kullay said that three newspapers Greater Kashmir, Kashmir Times, and Kashmir Reader had been denied government advertisements for the last seven years.

Kullay sought clarification on the criteria adopted by the government in issuing advertisements.

"Newspapers with a circulation of a few hundred copies are receiving advertisements, while the established and widely read publications like Greater Kashmir have been denied them," he said.

Speaking to Greater Kashmir outside the House, Kullay said that Greater Kashmir is an institution in its own right.

"Stopping advertisements to such a publication, along with others, raises serious concerns over the criteria and transparency of the allocation process," he said.

Kullay said that in the absence of big corporate Houses in Jammu and Kashmri, newspapers had to rely on government advertisements.

"Suspension of adevertisement is an assault on free press", he said.