Tanvir Sadiq alleges bias in newspaper ad distribution, questions exclusion of Greater Kashmir

Jammu, Mar 18: National Conference MLA from  Zadibal Tanvir Sadiq Tuesday obliquely hinted at armtwisting methods to browbeat media as he mentioned that three prominent and widely read newspapers, including Greater Kashmir were deprived of advertisements for the past few years.

Questioning the criterion adopted by the previous regime in distributing advertisements to daily newspapers of repute, Sadiq said, "Greater Kashmir, Kashmir Reader and Kashmir Times - three widely read newspapers were provided zero advertisement during the past few years."

He was participating in the demand for grants for the departments under the charge of the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

Sadiq said, "They are the newspapers who act as the voice of people. I wonder what is the criterion of giving advertisements to newspapers. Are they not covering the news?"

He requested the Chief Minister to rationalise criteria for issuing advertisements to the newspapers.

MLA Tangmarg Farooq Ahmed Shah also demanded rationalisation of criteria to distribute advertisements among the newspapers.