J&K media policy aims to reduce ‘dual control’, says Nasir Aslam

SRINAGAR — Chief Minister’s Adviser Nasir Aslam Wani on Thursday said the Jammu and Kashmir Government’s proposed media policy was aimed at reducing “dual control” and ensuring greater freedom for the media, amid criticism from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the planned framework.

Wani said the government was seeking to address instances where media organisations faced interference even when there was no law-and-order issue involved.

“There is dual control in all cases. There are cases where there is no law and order, but there is still interference. We want to reduce this,” Wani said while responding to questions about the media policy.

He said the government wanted to ensure greater freedom for the media. “We want to give freedom to our media,” Wani said.

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His remarks came amid a broader debate in Jammu and Kashmir over the proposed New Media Policy 2026, with the PDP raising concerns that greater regulation could amount to censorship and affect press freedom.

The government informed the Legislative Assembly on September 30 that the Information Department was working on the policy and that a House Committee had given it four months to formulate new guidelines. The proposed framework is expected to include provisions for the registration and regulation of online news media platforms.

Wani was speaking on the sidelines of a three-day science and technology conference at the Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST), Awantipora.

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He said seminars and conferences on relevant subjects were important for encouraging innovation and bringing new ideas into science and technology.

“There is always an effort to hold seminars and conferences on any relevant topic. This is a three-day conference on science and technology. We want to create new innovations and are trying to bring new innovations to science and technology,” he said.

Wani added that science and technology had an important role in addressing contemporary challenges and remained significant for society and the wider world.