Official Spokesman refutes remarks attributed to CM by New Delhi-based Financial Express
JAMMU, APRIL 14: The State Government spokesman has strongly refuted the remarks attributed to the Chief Minister, Ms Mehbooba Mufti in today’s web edition of New Delhi-based business newspaper Financial Express regarding a youth allegedly tied to a security forces vehicle in Budgam area.
“It is highly unfortunate, severely unethical and grossly irresponsible on part of such a prominent newspaper to attribute such sweeping remarks to the Chief Minister which she never made,” the spokesman said.
The spokesman said that immediately after the news was circulated on internet, the matter was taken up by Director Information, Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, with the editor of the Financial Express, who was, strangely enough, unable to justify the source of the unsubstantiated remarks attributed to the Chief Minister.
“There clearly seems to be some defined intention in attributing uncorroborated statement to the Chief Minister, and the management of the newspaper shall have to come clear on it,” he said and added that in the right spirit of the journalistic ethics, the reporter should have cross-checked the facts before rushing with the story.
Seeking an unconditional apology from the Editor of the newspaper for such a grave gaffe, the spokesman said the State Government would be initiating legal action on the matter.
KV Correspondent
