A document allegedly belonging to the Directorate of Minorities of Karnataka recommending media kits for minority journalists and two pages of government advertisements (per month) for newspapers owned by minorities has emerged in public domain. The letter has been allegedly written by the Directorate of Minorities to the Department of Information and Public Relations on 1.03.2018.
Sadananda Gowda, the Union Minister of Statistics & Programme Implementation at the centre tweeted the document.
Appeasement at its height !!! Karnataka Government issues Diktat in appeasement !! Journalists kit worth Few thousands Rupee (Laptop , Handi cam , still camera ) to journalists belonging Minority and two page Advertisements every month to the minority owned news papers pic.twitter.com/TXrtvpsC7s
— Sadananda Gowda (@DVSBJP) March 7, 2018
The body of the letter says :
The daily newspapers which have got the minority certification from the government must be given two pages of advertisement per month regarding the progressive achievements of the government. For the certified official journalists [of these minority newspapers] a media kit containing a laptop, handicam, steel camera should be provided at a cost of ₹ 61,750.
Minority editors and journalists association’s assistance should be taken to identify beneficiaries at the state and district level. The association has received the recognition of department of information and public relations. The grants must be approved for the Directorate of minorities for this purpose.
The full letter can be read here :
While the Congress party or any functionary from the Karnataka Government hasn’t responded to this letter yet, if the information put out by BJP is true, it points towards yet another attempt to appease the minority.
