Srinagar : Heated arguments between the journalists and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) State president for women’s wing, Safina Beigh in Jammu were witnessed when later defended Mehbooba Mufti’s visits to families of militants.
As per the reports, Safina was addressing a press conference in Jammu’s press club in which she highlighted the achievements of the previous government in women empowerment and scraping of the stamp duty.
During press conference was going on, some journalists raised the questions about the visits of Mehbooba Mufti to the families of the militants and why the PDP is defending the militancy in Kashmir. Also, several questions over the reasons why the PDP when in government didn’t order CBI probe in Rasana case.
According to Valley Media Service, answering the queries, Safina said that in no way the families of the militants should be harassed or intimidated by the forces. She further stated that when the entire country was demanding severe punishment to the culprit of Rasana, the issue should not have been viewed with a religious angle. “That girl could have been anyone.
What was done to her was monstrous and inhuman. We all should rise above the sectarian lines and demand exemplary punishment to the beasts who committed the heinous crime,” Safina said.
She further stated that the state actions of the past compelled the youth of Kashmir to pick up arms and that there is a need for reconciliation to bring back normalcy and peace in the violence-infested region.
“Some journalists objected to Safina’s stand on Rasana and defending Mehbooba’s visits to families of militants. Soon after there were heated arguments and some journalists used unparliamentarily language in the press conference due to which the presser had to be called off,” one of the witnesses in the press conference said.
Later on, Safina said that the journalistic fraternity in the state is the most professional lot in the country and has been battling all odds to report the truth. She further termed the incident unfortunate but was quick to state that the action of a handful cannot defame the entire community of journalists in the state.
“We are very proud of the Journalistic fraternity of Jammu and Kashmir. They have been telling truth to power since decades. Theatrics of few masquerading as journalists cannot whitewash the entire fraternity,” Safina said.(VMS)
