Curbs on media being removed every day in J&K: Javadekar

Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar on Friday said the media restrictions were being removed everyday in Kashmir.

"Though there was a phase of reasonable restrictions, most of them have been being progressively removed every day, and we will have a completely normal, new Kashmir and new India," he said at a news conclave here about the curbs on media in the Valley.

Re-affirming the government's ever-continuing commitment towards media freedom, Javadekar said: "Media freedom is the essence of democracy. But it must be also understood that in a democratic civil society, freedom has to be responsible freedom. Responsible freedom is not regulated freedom... it is self regulation using our own methods."

The minister said that the incidents of mob lynching are even happening in the country due to rumours spreading in social media. "This happens because of the absence of an authority or self regulatory mechanism in social media," he said.

Replying to questions, Javadekar said that the government welcomes all kind of criticism as they give insights into governance. "We believe in free institutions because they are the strength of democracy," he added.

He also said that the 'New India' envisioned by the present government will be corruption-free, terror-free, casteism-free, communalism-free and poverty-free. "We have a diverse country. Diversity is the spirit of India. Live and let live is the basis of Indian philosophy," he said.

( With inputs from IANS )