Srinagar, July 06: While supporting the demand of journalists to immediately rollback of new media policy, CPI (M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami on Monday termed the policy as an attempt to throttle freedom of speech and expression.

In a statement, Tarigami said the new media policy has spread unease amongst the journalists working in the region as it is aimed at gagging their voice in Jammu and Kashmir. “The government and the framers of the policy must understand that the media is the fourth pillar of democracy and importantly as equally as three other pillars,” he said.

He added the framers of this policy have given a clear picture that they don’t want journalists answerable to their readers and editors, but to bureaucrats and security officials, who will have the powers to decide which news item is “fake, unethical, plagiarized” or “anti-national”. “The policy has been framed with an aim to give the government a free hand to muzzle freedom of press,” he added

While assuring the journalist fraternity of his full support over the issue, he urged the government to immediately roll back the new media policy. “Not only the policy must be rolled back but also the government must immediately stop intimidation of journalists in Jammu and Kashmir. A free media can be useful for the administration as well to take the right decisions than sunshine stories,” he added—(KNO)