Photo journalists boycott J

Srinagar, July 19 (UNI) Photo journalists today boycotted the first day of the summer session of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly and Council besides presidential election following restrictions imposed by the authorities.

The photo-journalists, representing local, international and national media organisations surrendered their passes issued by the Assembly and the Council secretariat.

The president of the Kashmir Photo Journalists Association (KPJA) Farooq Javid Khan said unnecessary restrictions imposed on the entry of the journalists into the Assembly and Council halls has forced them to boycott the proceedings.

He said in the past photo journalists were being allowed to take photographs of all leaders---treasury bench and opposition--without any restriction.

But because of new restrictions imposed by the authorities only two photo journalists will get just a few minutes to take photographs, he said adding we want that every journalist should get the opportunity to take photograph when Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad or leader of the opposition Abdul Rahim Rather or any other senior leader is speaking in the assembly or council. This is not possible within just few minutes, he said.

Mr Khan said an emergency meeting was later held in which it was decided to boycott the proceedings of both the houses and the presidential polls.

He said the authorities also did not honour the passes issued by the Election Commissioner to cover the president's election.

We later surrendered the passes to a senior officer of the Information department, he said adding the boycott will continue till the restrictions are removed.

A UNI correspondent, having valid personnel and car passes, was also refused permission to cross the Budshah bridge, just a minute's drive from his office.

Inspite of possesing car and personnel passes, He was directed to take a longer alternative route through the Zero bridge route. It later took him about two hours to reach office because of traffic jams.

UNI