Will act against news channels for ‘defaming’ Kashmir’s organisations: Group

Kashmir’s politico-religious organisation Jamaat-e-Islami has threatened to approach court against some New-Delhi based news channels for allegedly starting a defamation campaign against the state’s religious organisations and mosques.

Kashmir’s politico-religious organisation Jamaat-e-Islami has threatened to approach court against some New-Delhi based news channels for allegedly starting a defamation campaign against the state’s religious organisations and mosques.

A paramilitary soldier stands near a graffiti on a closed shop in Srinagar, Kashmir. (AP Photo)

The organisation, in a statement, has taken strong exception to what it said was malicious attempts by certain media outlets which, “instead of discharging their professional duties by dispassionately reporting the ground realities of Kashmir, are playing in the hands of anti-Islam and anti-Kashmir forces in defaming religious organisations and institutions of the State”.

“Certain news channels have started a vicious propaganda campaign against the religious organisations, particularly Jama’at-e-Islami and Jamiat-e-Ahle Hadith, and are trying to defame them in every possible manner. These news channels are defaming Islam and religious organisations of Kashmir at the behest of anti-Islam and anti-Kashmir forces,” the statement alleged.

Some news channels have come under criticism in Kashmir and outside for their “jingoistic reportage” of the events in the Valley in the aftermath of violence triggered after Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter on July 8.