Journalist who had filed an RTI against the district administration Baramulla seeking monetization details of a Facebook page titled ‘DC Baramulla’ has been declared as self styled while his page has been blacklisted by officials of the Jammu Kashmir administration.
In a copy of the order accessed by The Kashmiriyat, the admin said, “Whereas, this office served two notices to Umar Rashid, S/O Rashid Ahmad Gilkar R/O Kanispora to prove his authority for circulating news on social media platforms Whereas, Umar Rashid was given ample time and chance to prove his authority but he failed to submit his reply within the given timeline.
“Umar Rashid is frequently seen involved in malpractices of blackmailing various government offices and other institutions and recently involved in protests against government during the visit of Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor JK UT to Baramulla on 30-05-2023,” claimed the official order.
Speaking to The Kashmiriyat, Umar, however, denied the allegations. “I have a post graduate degree and Urdu News Kashmir which has been blacklisted by the officials is registered by the Government of India.” He alleged that he was being pressurized to backout on the RTI.
“I earn a little money through my citizen journalism; however, this blacklisting of my Facebook page will lead to serious economic crisis for me,” he claimed. There was no issue before he filed the RTI, Umar said.
Umar, who hails from Baramulla district of north Kashmir said that the protest he had raised with the Governor’s office was about favouritism by the officials. “Five to six journalists are provided benefits and taken to every official event, while the rest of us are ignored. Unfortunately, most of them are not even qualified to be journalists,” Umar told The Kashmiriyat.
The order also mentioned that the complaint against the journalist has been filed by ANN- a new channel and “other media persons” about the “fake journalism and practices of blackmailing government offices” by Umar Rashid by showing voice recording of extortion which were viral on social media platforms.
“In the view of the above, Umar Rashid Son of Rashid Ahmad Gilkar R/O Kanispora is declared as a self-styled journalist and his Facebook Page “Urdu News Kashmir” is blacklisted for further circulation/ coverage of any news on social media,” the official order read.
Umar Rashid had filed an RTI appeal addressed to the Public Information Officer District Information Officer, Baramulla on 01 June, 2023 seeking information from the office including the monetization of facebook page allegedly run by the district admin, educational details of journalists in official group of Baramulla admin among other details.
“With due respect and regard that I Umar Rashid From Kanispora Baramulla Need Some Information under RTI act 2005. Kindly furnish information as to if the Facebook Page titled” DC BARAMULLA” has been monitized, if yes, it’s MONITIZATION ACCOUNT Number, MONITIZATION Details and the amount so far collected by way of the online Advertisements and if the amount collected hasn’t been WITHDRAWN HOW much AMOUT has accumulated in the account,” the RTI read.
In his RTI, the journalist also sought details of the members who have been added to the DIPR whatsapp group of Baramulla. “What is their qualification,” Umar asked through his RTI.
He also sought details of the vehicles and the fuel expenses of the Information Department.
“If any media funds on seminar, tour or any cultural programmes was spent so far kindly give details how much amount spent till date,” he asked through his RTI appeal.
Following this RTI, the officials in Baramulla district issued an order stating that the office receives “multiple complaints” from the general public about the “unethical reporting, fake news and misinformation” by the citizen journalists due to the mushrooming growth of so called journalists, thereby disturbing the “peace and harmony” in the community.
Whereas, it has come to the notice of this office that individuals resort to citizen journalism and attempt to record the live streaming of accidental deaths/ suicidal cases despite blanket ban on such recordings/ reporting, read the order dated 02 June, 2023.
Whereas, Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) has a mandate as envisaged in JK Media Policy 2020 to de-empanel any individual or group indulged in dissemination of misinformation through the use of social media platforms besides preceding against any reporter for unethical, fake news or anti-national activities under the provisions of IPC and Cyber Laws, the district administration said in its order.
In order to check the media manipulation and to regulate the mushrooming growth of “self styled journalists” in Baramulla district, all the media persons of the district are hereby directed to submit authority letters from their respective organizational heads within a period of seven days so that this office will proceed ahead for further codal formalities, the order read.