Committee for Protection of Journalists on Monday called on Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to immediately withdraw his remarks that the “writer” of an article on the local administration’s alleged corruption is part of the “separatist ecosystem,” compromising the safety of a journalist.
In a post on social media X, the journalist group said, “CPJ urges the authorities to ensure Jehangir Ali (@Gaamuk) may continue his reporting without fear of reprisal, and to end their worsening crackdown on the Kashmiri media.”
Jehangir Ali, a correspondent of the online website The Wire, had reported about an IAS officer’s allegations against Sinha on the Pradhan Mantri-Jan Arogya Yojna insurance scheme.
At a public event in Jammu on October 14, Sinha reportedly said the “writer of the article was himself an active part of a separatist ecosystem.”
In a letter to the Governor, The Wire‘s founding editor Siddharth Varadarajan stated the “baseless accusation” coming from the LG’s high office could have perilous consequences for the journalist you are targeting and also for the media more broadly.
The Wire requested Sinha to withdraw the accusation against Jehangir Ali and refrain from making such “unfounded allegations”.
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