Sat Mar 08 04:12:48 UTC 2025: ## Jammu and Kashmir to Revive Kashmir Press Club

**Srinagar, March 8, 2025** – Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah announced plans to reopen the Kashmir Press Club (KPC) in Srinagar, which was shut down three years ago under the previous Lieutenant Governor’s administration. The announcement, made during his budget speech in the J&K Assembly on Friday, underscores the government’s commitment to press freedom and strengthening media infrastructure.

Mr. Abdullah emphasized the importance of a free and independent press for a thriving democracy, stating that the government would take concrete steps to revive and support the KPC, providing journalists with a dedicated space for collaboration and contributing to public discourse.

This announcement follows concerns raised by National Conference legislator Bashir Ahmad Veeri regarding the alleged detention of journalists who reported on the felling of chinar trees in Anantnag district. Mr. Veeri highlighted the irony of journalists facing detention while those responsible for the illegal act remained unpunished. He called for ensuring journalists’ freedom and sense of belonging.

The KPC, with around 300 registered journalists, was effectively closed in January 2022 when the J&K administration suspended its registration. The suspension stemmed from the withholding of a character and antecedent certificate for the KPC’s managing body.

Mr. Abdullah’s commitment to reviving the KPC is seen as a significant step towards restoring press freedom in the region.

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