Political parties condemn J&K speaker's statement on media

Jammu and Kashmir Assembly speaker's statement on the media drew sharp reaction from political parties on Tuesday who condemned it and demanded that he should withdraw his comment.

Several parties, including BJP, PDP, Shri Ram Sena and Hindustan Shiv Sena criticised Speaker Mohammad Akbar Lone's statement on Monday that "media was under his control".

"We condemn the statement of Lone that 'Media is under his control'. He should take back his words and allow media to function without curbs and freely as media is the fourth pillar of the democracy," SRS state president Rajiv Mahajan told reporters here.

Mahajan asked Lone to take a leaf out of Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar's book on how to conduct himself inside the House.

"We extend our support to the ongoing protest by the state's media fraternity against remarks passed by the Speaker against mediapersons and their functioning," BJP state president Shamsher Singh Manhas said.

"Media is an important pillar of democracy and BJP opposes any attempt to suppress the freedom of press."

HSS president Dimpy Kohli also condemned Lone's remarks asked him to take back his words.