Srinagar, Jun 26: Journalists and owners and editors of newspapers and media houses Tuesday staged a silent protest rally here to denounce the killing of senior journalist Shujaat Bukhari, and BJP leader Lal Singh’s threat.
The protest started with hundreds of journalists assembling at the Press Enclave here, and then marched towards Ghanta Ghar (Clock Tower) Lal Chowk for a silent-sit-in for half-an-hour.
With many of them covering their mouths with black bands to convey their resentment to curbs on free speech, the marching journalists were also holding placards which read: “Journalism is not a crime; We will protest Shujaat’s killing even if we are alone in this,” and “Assassins of free thinking will never succeed”.
Bukhari was assassinated on June 14 by unidentified gunmen outside his office in Srinagar.
The protesting media-persons also expressed serious concerns over BJP lawmaker, Chowdhry Lal Singh’s ‘threats’ to the Kashmiri journalists.
The BJP leader and former minister in PDP-BJP coalition, Chaudhary Lal Singh had issued a veiled threat to the Valley-based journalists asking them to draw a line and decide how they have to live.
The protesting journalists in order to avoid traffic jam on busy Residency Road took pedestrian walkway to reach to the venue — Ghanta-Ghar.
Upon reaching Lal Chowk, the media persons assembled at a public park and held a silent sit-in against what they termed was cold-blooded murder of veteran journalist, and controversial remarks made against journalists by Lal Singh.
They said the Governor keeping in view the sensitivity of the issue must initiate action against Singh for intimidating Fourth Estate here.
They also demanded time-bound probe into the assassination of Shujaat Bukhari.
Speaking on the occasion a veteran female journalist Anuradha Bhasin of Kashmir Times termed the assassination of Bukhari as attack on the freedom of press saying the assailants whosoever they are must be brought to book.
She said the brutal killing of Bukhari has created a vacuum in the field of journalism. “We demand a time bound inquiry into the gruesome incident so that the assailants are brought to book.”
She also condemned Lal Singh’s controversial statement and demanded action against him for intimidating and provoking journalist fraternity.
“I condemn in strong words the statement of Lal Singh and appeal o the Governor to initiate action against him for threatening journalists. How could one do this? Media is the voice of voiceless and such statements are provocative,” she added.
