Srinagar, July 26: Lieutenant Governor G C Murmu has that his administration has informed the Union Home Ministry that J&K has no objection in restoring 4G internet services, and that high-speed internet connectivity would not pose any problem.
He has also said that Media policy will be re-checked and Information Department cannot decide what content is fake, anti-national.
“We have been making (a) representation for this… I feel that 4G will not be a problem. I am not afraid how people will use this. Pakistan will do its propaganda, whether it is 2G or 4G. It will always be there… But I don’t see an issue,” LG Murmu told Sunday Express.
To another question on the J&K Information Department’s Media Policy 2020, which empowers the DIPR (Department of Information and Public Relations) to examine media content for fake news, plagiarism and unethical or anti-national activities, Lt Governor Murmu said, “I will check this, this is not required. There are relevant IPC/ CrPC and other laws for this.”
The policy, implemented by the Information Department on May 15, 2020, said, “DIPR shall examine the content of the print, electronic and other forms of media for fake news, plagiarism, unethical or anti-national activities.” Any individual or group indulging in this shall be de-empanelled, it said.
“A suitable mechanism with specific ToRs (terms of reference) shall be set up by the DIPR for monitoring the above and ensuring adherence to the guidelines,” it said.
LG Murmu said the policy was primarily revised to give space to the electronic and social media. “Advertisements were given only to print and local media – patronage. People haven’t done anything for electronic and social media,” he said.
He emphasised that other things in the policy were normal. “If you see the Government of India or other states’, the accreditation policy depends on circulation, readership, etc. The policy follows the same things… there is nothing discriminatory,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor said that the DIPR did not have the capacity to decide whether a news is “anti-national.”
“This obviously, only the agencies can check. We can delete this also (from the revised media policy). They (DIPR) only have to do the checks required for accreditation, but not facts… if there is such a situation, they will get it checked from agencies. What is ‘anti-national’ is a parameter of law… the Supreme Court has given judgements on this from time to time… Again, agencies or police will have to do (look into this),” he said.
“I have already told the Information Department to re-check all this,” the LG said. (Courtesy Indian Express)
