Kashmir Media Silenced - Aruradha Bhasin

In an interview where she reveals in detail the deeply disquieting state of journalism in Kashmir and the disturbing treatment of Kashmiri journalists by the government, Anuradha Bhasin, the Executive Editor of The Kashmir Times, strongly and sharply refuted the Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Anurag Thakur’s criticism of her recent essay in The New York Times. The Minister said her “so-called opinion piece on freedom of press in Kashmir is mischievous and fictitious” adding it was “published with a sole motive to spread a propaganda about India and its democratic institutions and values”. In response, Ms. Bhasin said she “completely refutes” what the Minister has said. She added he “hasn’t contested the facts but (only) the interpretation of them”. She said she “absolutely stands by” what she has written adding the Minister’s “over-reaction … vindicates my stand”.