SRINAGAR: Senior journalist Shekhar Gupta Thursday revealed that Kashmir was always covered with a slant by the Indian media. Sheiker asserted that truth was the casualty in reporting Kashmir because truth went against National Interest.
The biggest problem in Kashmir is the way the place has been covered in the main land Indian media. It is that Kashmir has been seen and covered as a Kashmir problem. It has not been covered as Kashmir region or Kashmir state, he said. Because the problem has always been very closely linked to the national security and military security, it has got inexplicably woven in that perspective.
Shekhar further said, Kashmir gets a lot of space in national media because through Kashmir comes a threat to India. Kashmir, according to Shekhar, was covered purely as a security story. The underlying theme always was whether the danger is increasing in Kashmir or decreasing, Shekhar added.
Shekhar spoke at a function to release Aina Numa,- a compendium of writings by former journalist-turned-politician, late Shamim Ahmad Shamim. The book compiled by Shamims sister Qurat-ul-Ain, includes a number of articles written by Shamim Ahmad Shamim.
While referring to Shamim, Gupta said that the Shamim held a unique position owing to the literary critical articles he wrote during his time.
He familiarised himself at the time when it was difficult for a journalist to find audience, people and stories, said Shekhar.
