All India Progressive Women’s Association (AIPWA) secretary and Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) member Kavita Krishnan had announced on Twitter that she along with members of the National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM), All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) and economist Jean Drèze would release a report, based on a five-day visit to Kashmir. The team had reportedly visited Srinagar, Sopore, Bandipora, Anantnag, Shopian and Pampore from August 9 to August 13.
Reminder: come to Press Club of India (Raisina Road, Delhi) at 12 noon onwards where Jean Drèze (economist), @MaimoonaMollah (AIDWA) @vimalbhai11 (@NAPM) & @kavita_krishnan of @cpimlliberation will be releasing a report of a 5-day visit to Kashmir, + photo & video documentation
— Kavita Krishnan (@kavita_krishnan) August 14, 2019
A solidarity team – Jean Drèze, economist, @kavita_krishnan of AIPWA, @MaimoonaMollah of AIDWA & @vimalbhai11 of @NAPM hv just returned frm extensive travels across Kashmir. Situation isn't what most media is showing. We will release a report at a PC at Press Club, 14 Aug 12 noon pic.twitter.com/Q9E4rn8ApO
— Kavita Krishnan (@kavita_krishnan) August 13, 2019
The report was scheduled to be held at the Press Club of India in New Delhi on the noon of August 14 and was to include photographic and video documentation of the region in the aftermath of the Centre’s bid to amend Article 370.
Things did not, however, go as planned. As per tweets from Hindustan Times journalist Deepanjana Pal, the Press Club did not allow the team to present their photographic and video report. Krishnan, speaking to Pal, said: “Unfortunately we have been informed here that the Press Club is not allowing us to use the projector at all. It seems they have been specifically told not to allow us to air our footage.”
At the press conference earlier today, @kavita_krishnan said, "Unfortunately we have been informed here that the Press Club [of India] is not allowing us to use the projector at all. It seems they have been specifically told not to allow us to air our footage." https://t.co/0lNNu4AX6R
— Deepanjana (@dpanjana) August 14, 2019
Krishnan, however, said that the report would be uploaded online and that journalists could reach them to use the relevant material. Commenting on the issue, Pal aid on Twitter, “This is censorship. There are those who may say it isn’t because hey, it’s not like the press conference wasn’t held. It was held, it was well-attended, but that doesn’t make it acceptable for the Press Club to enforce a partial gag by not allowing photos or videos to be shown.”
This is censorship. There are those who may say it isn't because hey, it's not like the press conference wasn't held. It was held, it was well-attended, but that doesn't make it acceptable for the Press Club to enforce a partial gag by not allowing photos or videos to be shown.
— Deepanjana (@dpanjana) August 14, 2019
Khabar Lahariya, an Indian news network for rural regions, telecast the press conference on Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/khabarlahariya/videos/377939879585834/
Speaking to HuffPost India about the visit to Jammu and Kashmir, Krishnan said, “Frankly, it looked like occupied Iraq or occupied Palestine.”
She further said, “The situation is absolutely grim. Kashmir is under military siege. There are paramilitary forces on every street, outside homes, outside localities. The situation is really quite alarming. There is no scope for anyone to speak, no scope for peaceful protests.”
She added, “In the Kashmir Valley, we did not meet a single soul who was happy with the decision. They were upset with the media coverage… It is seen as an act of humiliation and violence against the people of Kashmir.”
Also Read: Did BBC, Al Jazeera, Reuters Fabricate Reports of Unrest in Kashmir?