SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kahsmir government today ordered cancellation of government accommodations of some Srinagar based newspaper editors.
The step comes soon after government stopped issuing advertisements to various local as well as weekly newspapers for unknown reasons.
The editors whose government accmodation ha sbeen cancelled include, Farooq Wani, Editor, Brighter Kashmir, Rashid Rahil, Asian Mail, Tariq Lone, Aaj Tak, Wajih Andrabi, Jabroot, Rehmat Khan, Rehmat newspapers.
According to them, the estates department has allotted them quarters in 2012 but but were never renewed despite pleas from the editors. We are running our newspapers from these quarters but now where will we go. We live in far flung areas and our only station is these quarters, they said.
They said their work will be hindered if the media accommodation is not given back to them.
However a senior official said that the decision was taken as the government had to pay a heavy rent against these quarters since they were not Govt proprties. Estates Deptt had taken these building on rent from private parties several years ago to house VIPs.
He said 84 media persons have been given accommodation by the state government under discretionary quota followed by 56 political persons, 40 former legislators, 10 former MPs, 11 MLAs and MLCs, besides two MPs in Srinagar and Jammu.
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