By Newslaundry
Journalists from foreign media outlets were not allowed to cover Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rally in Srinagar on Thursday, sources in the government and media told Newslaundry. This was Modi’s first visit to the Union territory after Article 370 – which accorded special status to Jammu and Kashmir – was de-operationalised on August 5, 2019.
The Department of Information and Public Relations had received 160 applications from journalists for passes to cover the event, a week before the rally, and 127 of these were approved, Newslaundry learnt. Among those who were denied passes were news agencies such as AP, AFP and Russian news agency Sputnik.
“After receiving the applications, DIPR shared the details with the police department [CID] for verification. They cleared 127 names of the total 160. No foreign media outlet has been given the passes,” said a source in the J&K administration.
J&K DIPR director Jatin Kishore could not confirm if any foreign media outlet was denied access. “I don’t think this is correct that foreign media was not allowed. The list we received was from PIB.”
This story was originally published in thenewsminute.com. Read the full story here.
