Puducherry Jan 19 PTI The Puducherry Print and TV Journalists Association on Wednesday condemned what it called as coercive the take-over of the Kashmir Press Club by a group of journalists with the alleged assistance of the police and the administration on January 15 R K Raja the president of association said in a press release that the re-registration of the Club by the group of journalists with the support of the administration is a conscious effort to crush the democratic course of holding elections to the club Raja said what was stunning was the alleged audacity of the police to enter the premises of the Club without a warrant and in utter disregard of the law helping and abetting self-assertive group to take over the press club The association appealed to the Union Home Minister Amit Shah to issue instructions to the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha to investigate and restoration of the norms The democratic process of elections to the Club should be ensured and the administration should ensure a tranquil atmosphere for the fairly chosen body to function Raja said On Tuesday political parties asked the Jammu and Kashmir administration to restore the Kashmir Press Club premises to the journalists body and provide an enabling atmosphere for holding free and fair elections to the Club On Monday the JK administration said the Club has ceased to exist and took back the premises allotted to the largest journalists body in the Valley following alleged dissensions between two factions one of which had tacit support from the government PTI COR NVG NVG

Srinagar Jan 18 PTI Political parties Tuesday asked the Jammu and Kashmir administration to restore the Kashmir Press Club premises to the journalists body and provide an enabling atmosphere for holding free and fair KPC electionsOn Monday the JK administration said the Kashmir Press Club has ceased to exist and took back the premises allotted to the largest journalists body in the Valley following dissensions between two factions one of which had tacit support from the government The National Conference deplores the closure of Kashmir Press club party spokesman Imran Nabi Dar said Tuesday asking the government to work for creating an enabling environment for the KPC to hold its elections in a free and fair mannerThe Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee JKPCC said the closure of Press Club was unacceptable and unfairA spokesman of the party said the JKPCC urged the administration to revisit the decision JKPCC unequivocally condemns the closure of Kashmir Press Club by the administration and sought revocation of the closure order in the larger interest of the press freedom He said the administration should help settle the issue by paving the way for early elections to the KPCWhile expressing resentment over the closure of Kashmir Press Club by the administration CPIM Secretary Ghulam Nabi Malik said that the closing of the club is an assault on the rights of the peopleThis act is just a part of a policy which started with putting the registration of the club in abeyance The administration has finally closed the club Malik saidThe closure of the Kashmir Press Club is part of the continuous process to throttle the press freedom and democracy in Kashmir The pressmedia in Jammu and Kashmir is already working under immense stress and strain he addedMalik demanded immediate restoration of the status quo and providing atmosphere where the KPC can conduct free and fair elections PTI MIJ TIR TIR