
देश के करीब 132 प्रतिष्ठित नागरिकों ने पुलित्ज़र अवॉर्ड का चयन करने वाले बोर्ड को ओपन लेटर लिखा है, उन्होंने फ़ीचर फोटोग्राफी कैटेगरी में एसोसिएटेड प्रेस की फीचर रिपोर्ट्स को अवॉर्ड दिए जाने पर सवाल उठाए हैं। साथ उन्होंने पुलित्ज़र पुरस्कार 2020 के निदेशक मण्डल और चयनकर्ताओं से अपील की है कि वह भारत में झूठी खबरों और आतंकवाद को बढ़ावा देने वाले पत्रकारों को सम्मानित करना बंद करे। दरअसल मामला यह है कि बीते 5 मई को एसोसिएटेड प्रेस न्यूज़ एजेंसी के तीन फोटो जर्नलिस्ट चन्नी आनंद , डार यासीन और मुख़्तार खान को फीचर फोटोग्राफी श्रेणी में कश्मीर की कवरेज के लिए पुलित्ज़र पुरस्कार दिया गया था। आम तौर पर जब किसी भारतीय को कोई अंतरराष्ट्रीय अवॉर्ड मिलता है, तो पूरा देश उसकी सराहना करता है। लेकिन इस बार ऐसा नहीं हुआ। फोटो जर्नलिस्ट चन्नी आनंद को छोड़कर बाकी दोनों जर्नलिस्ट डार यासीन और मुख़्तार खान की फोटो और कैप्शन से भारत की अखंडता और भारतीय संविधान की अवमानना हुई है। साथ ही उन्होंने भारत के अभिन्न अंग जम्मू-कश्मीर के लिए ‘Indian controlled Kashmir’ जैसे शब्दों का इस्तेमाल किया है। जिससे करोड़ों भारतवासी आहत हुए हैं। जिसके बाद भारत के प्रतिष्ठित नागरिकों ने साथ मिलकर ये ओपन लेटर लिखा है।
(ओपन लेटर लिखने वालों में 5 पदमश्री से सम्मानित हस्तियां हैं, जिसमें पदम श्री जवाहर लाल कौल, पदम श्री के.के. अग्रवाल का नाम शामिल है। इसके अलावा देश 14 विश्वविद्यालयों के वाइस-चांसलरों ने भी इस ओपन लेटर पर हस्ताक्षर किए हैं। इसके अलावा रेसलर गीता फोगाट, योगेश्वर दत्त और सांसद किरण खेर का नाम भी लिस्ट में शामिल है)
यदि आप पुलित्ज़र की वेबसाइट पर जायेंगे तो वहाँ पुरस्कारों की लिस्ट में तीनों फोटो जर्नलिस्ट के नाम दिखेंगे। जिनके आगे लिखा है कि यह पुरस्कार “For striking images of life in the contested territory of Kashmir as India revoked its independence, executed through a communications blackout “ यानि “यह पुरस्कार विवादित क्षेत्र कश्मीर के जीवन की विलक्षण तस्वीरों के लिए जब भारत ने संचार माध्यम को बंद कर वहाँ (कश्मीर) की स्वतंत्रता समाप्त कर दी”
देखिए कैसे डार यासीन और मुख़्तार खान ने अपने फोटो के नीचे कैप्शन में विवादित क्षेत्र और भारत नियंत्रित कश्मीर
शब्द का उपयोग किया है। जबकि जम्मू-कश्मीर समेत पीओजेके,गिलगित बल्तिस्तान
भारत का अभिन्न अंग है।
A masked Kashmiri protester jumps on the bonnet of an armored vehicle of Indian police as he throws stones at it during a protest in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, May 31, 2019. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)
Women shout slogans as Indian policemen fire teargas and live ammunition in the air to stop a protest march in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Aug. 9, 2019. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)
Masked Kashmiris shout slogans during a protest after Friday prayers on the outskirts of Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Oct. 4, 2019. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)
Kashmiri Muslim children attend recitation classes of the holy Quran on the first day of the fasting month of Ramadan in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, May 7, 2019. (AP Photo/Mukhtar Khan)
Kashmiri men shout freedom slogans during a protest against New Delhi's tightened grip on the disputed region, after Friday prayers on the outskirts of Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Aug. 23, 2019. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)
इस ओपन लेटर में जो सबसे बड़ा खुलासा है, वो ये है कि इन फ़ोटो रिपोर्टस में तथ्यात्मक गलतियां है यानि फेक न्यूज़ है।
An Open Letter to the Administrator, Board and Jury of the Pulitzer Prize 2020Pulitzer stop endorsing fake news and terror in India 9 th May 2020Dear Pulitzer Members, On May 5, 2020, three Indian photojournalists from the Associated Press newsagency were given the 2020 Pulitzer Prize in the Feature Photography category fortheir coverage on Kashmir. Your website mentions the names Channi Anand,Mukhtar Khan and Dar Yasin of Associated Press for the Pulitzer prize with acitation - 'For striking images of life in the contested territory of Kashmir as Indiarevoked its independence, executed through a communications blackout.' To begin with, by using the term 'Contested territory' for 'Kashmir', you exposedyourself by showcasing your poor knowledge and understanding of historical factsrelated to Jammu-Kashmir. The usage of the term like 'Contested territory' is anattack on the Sovereignty and Integrity of India and disrespect to the Constitution ofIndia because Jammu Kashmir is an integral part of India and there is no disputeabout it. Read the ancient history of India, and you will find that this state has beenone of the most prominent parts of India for the last several centuries. Walter W.Lawrence in 'The Valley of Kashmir' wrote, "Kashmir can claim the distinction ofbeing the only region of India which possesses an uninterrupted series of writtenrecords of its history, reaching back beyond the period of the Mohammedanconquest and deserving the name of real chronicles". Walter W. Lawrence,(ICS) was the Settlement Commissioner for Jammu Kashmir, (Henry Frowde, OxfordUniversity Press Warehouse, 1895.) Considering it either a weak understanding orjaundiced perceptions about Indian history, we are providing with the details of thebook, if at all, you wish to enlighten yourselves. There are many other referencesavailable in historical and legal terms; what you need is just a will to know the facts. The hereditary ruler of the Princely State of Jammu Kashmir, Maharaja Hari Singh,had signed the Instrument of Accession to join the dominion of India on October 26,1947, this IOA was signified by the then Governor-General, LordMountbatten. Thus, by following the legal procedure, created and endorsed by theBritish Govt, the Congress and the Muslim League, Jammu Kashmir became anintegral part of Indian Union. To understand the process of territorial integration,please read historical and legal documents pertaining to the Constitution of India.The Indian Constitution was framed by the elected representatives of people of India,including four representatives from Jammu & Kashmir, (for your kind informationSheikh Abdullah, grandfather of Omar Abdullah, former Chief Minister of J&K, wasalso a part of this team). Schedule 1, Article 1 of the Indian Constitution clearlystated that Jammu Kashmir is a state of Union of India and from October 31st 2019 itis declared as Union Territory of Jammu Kashmir & Union Territory of Laddakh . Noother country in the world has ever claimed Jammu Kashmir to be a part of theirterritory, nor can any country make such a claim. All the people of the earlier stateand currently the Union Territories, carry Indian passport and have citizenship ofIndia. When you write- 'India revoked its (Kashmir's) independence, executed through acommunications blackout,' it is nothing but again a demonstration of lack ofknowledge or deliberate attempt to project India in a bad light. If the communicationof an area is restricted temporarily for security reasons, how can it be interpretedas 'revoking independence' of that area!! Either you do not understand the meaningof Independence, or you are intentionally trying to create sensational news and patyour backs for supposed courage. Is this the 'excellence' you stand for? Also,remember you are referring to that state of India which has been a victim of Pakistansponsored terrorism and propaganda for almost forty years. Both the civilians andthe security personnel have suffered heavy losses due to terrorism inJ&K. Thus, anything that is directly or indirectly supporting the separatist and thedivisive agenda of Pakistan is also supporting terrorism in the region, and we aresure you do not wish to support terrorism as Americans! It is appalling to see anorganisation like yours that claims 'Honouring Excellence in Journalism and theArts' making such mistake. The purpose of the Pulitzer Prize is to encourage free journalism. Ironically, by givingthe prize to photographers like Dar Yasin and Mukhtar Khan, you are promotingjournalism and photography of lies, misrepresentation of facts andseparatism. We have not included the name of Channi Anand here because hisphoto does not malign India and unlike the other two photojournalists, it does not usethe term 'Indian controlled Kashmir.' What we find more shocking is that beforeconferring this prize, you did not even bother to check whether thesereporters/photographers have been telling the truth to the world!! For example, Ali and Hubaib, both Pakistani terrorists were killed in an encounter inKashmir region of J&K when they held a man and his 12-year-old nephew hostage intheir own house, on March 21, 2019. A report by Yasin Dar on March 22, 2019, with a photo of relatives grieving over thedead body of a young boy states- 'Kashmiri villagers grieving near the body of an 11-year-old boy, Atif Mir, during his funeral procession in Hajin village, north of SrinagarIndian controlled Kashmir, March 22, 2019. Indian security forces killed five militantsand the 11-year-old hostage in three separate clashes in the Indian-controlledportion of Kashmir'. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin).In other words, the report is blaming the Indian forces for the death of the young boy,besides it is again propagating the misinformation by calling Jammu-Kashmiras 'India Controlled portion of Kashmir'. Now let us look at the headlines and news reports of the same incident by someother newspapers/portals:The Wire: March 22, 2019'Kashmir: Militants Kill 12-Year-Old Boy; 5 Militants Killed in Encounter'. Scroll: March 25, 2019The Killing of a 12-year-old boy in Kashmir has prompted local voices to decrymilitant tacticsAccording to neighbours of the Mirs, "Ali Bhai", one of the militants killed, wanted tomarry Atif's teenaged sister…. "First of all, that girl is very young. Secondly, whichfamily would agree to marry their child to a militant who could be killed anytime?"…Ali may have been regarded with awe, but it was also mixed with fear. "He wasequally ruthless as well," said the local youth. "You can say people had starteddreading him ever since several people were beheaded by him for allegedly being[state] informers…." Atif's killing has been condemned across Kashmir by themainstream as well as separatist leaders. For the family, however, secessionistleaders of the Hurriyat were too mild in their condemnation. "The Hurriyat shouldamend their statement and be harsher and stricter in their criticism of what militantsdid to our child," said Mohammad Sultan Mir, uncle of Atif's father, Mohammad ShafiMir. Hindustan Times: March 22, 201912-year-old hostage killed by militants: J-K policeSSP Malik said the police received information from the rescued civilians that theminor boy was held hostage by Ali. "He didn't allow the boy to go out, and he killedthe boy before we stormed the building." The New Indian Express: March 23, 2019'It's not Jihad but Jahalat': Kashmir villagers pleaded with terrorists who killed 12-year-old boy'The Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists wanted to sexually abuse the boy's sister but thefamily had helped her escape, which infuriated them and they started beating up thefamily members….. As pressure mounted on the terrorists, they killed the helplessAtif, the police said, adding that the security forces later mounted a heightenedoperation and killed both the Pakistanis….Ali had been active in the area for longand was involved in the killing of a BSF personnel and others, including the death ofa man whose throat was slit in front of his son The Indian Express: March 23 2019'J&K: 12-year-old boy held hostage, killed despite mother's appeal to militants.The sinister agenda of Dar Yasin is an obvious glaring example of anti-Indiamindset. Even the other photos by the photographers mentioned above are full of venomagainst their own country, people and police. Winning applause by showing a mankicking the J&K Police van, photographs of protests, violence, aggression, these
photographers and AP news agency are strengthening the anti-India propaganda ofPakistan, and organisations like yours are indirectly encouraging terrorism. Bysupporting those who are spreading such fake news, you are defamingPulitzer prize and promoting Journalism of lies, deceits andmisrepresentations. It is a shame that a prize which claims to be for ‘progress andelevation of journalism’ is promoting hatred, division and falsehood. Your owncountry has been a victim of terrorism, but it seems that you have not recognized theseriousness of it. Had you understood it, then people like Dar Yasin and MukhtarKhan would not have been in the list of your Pulitzer winners. Hope in future somesense will prevail upon you and you will do your home-work, brush up your historyand learn a few lessons in politics and law before selecting the recipient of the Prizeand finalising their citations. Disclaimer: We have written the term Militants while quoting the news reports, but wedo not endorse this term. These are terrorists who have been killing our innocentcivilians, and we always call them terrorists.
डार यासीन की एक फोटो में 11 साल के बच्चे का कफ़न में लिपटा हुआ शव है और उसके करीबी शौक़ व्यक्त करते दिखाई दे रहे हैं। कैप्शन में लिखा है कि सुरक्षाबलों ने तीन एनकाउंटर में 5 आतंकवादियों और 11 साल के एक बच्चे को भारत नियंत्रित कश्मीर में मार डाला।
डार यासीन ने इस फेक न्यूज में भी भारत नियंत्रित कश्मीर शब्द का इस्तेमाल किया था। साथ ही उसने कैप्शन में लिखा कि सुरक्षाबलों ने 11 साल के बच्चे की हत्या की है। जबकि इस खबर का सच कुछ और था। यह घटना 21 मार्च 2019 की है, जब पकिस्तान के दो आतंकी अली और हुबैब ने 11 साल के आतिफ और उसके चाचा को उन्हीं के घर में बंधक बना लिया था। हालांकि सुरक्षाबलों ने चाचा को रेस्क्यू कर लिया था, लेकिन आतंकियों ने 11 वर्षीय बच्चे की हत्या कर दी थी। बाद में जवाबी कार्रवाई में सुरक्षाबलों ने दोनों आतंकियों को मार गिराया था। लेकिन एसोसिएटेड प्रेस में यासीन की खबर ने बच्चे की हत्या का ज़िम्मेदार सुरक्षाबलों को ठहराया। लेकिन वहीं सभी दूसरे अखबार और न्यूज पोर्टल ने साफ तौर पर लिखा था कि बच्चे की हत्या पाकिस्तानी आतंकवादियों ने की है।
कश्मीर के लिए विवादित और भारत नियंत्रित जैसे शब्दों का प्रयोग भारत की सम्प्रभुता और अखंडता पर प्रहार करता है तथा यह भारतीय संविधान की अवमानना है। लेकिन इन सबके बावजूद पुलित्ज़र बोर्ड ने इन पत्रकारों को अवार्ड दिया।
इतिहास –
पुलित्ज़र बोर्ड के खिलाफ जारी ओपन लेटर में निदेशक मण्डल को जम्मू-कश्मीर के इतिहास से भी अवगत कराया गया है। जम्मू कश्मीर रियासत के महाराजा हरि सिंह ने ‘इंस्ट्रूमेंट ऑफ़ एक्सेशन’ यानि ‘अधिमिलन पत्र’ पर 26 अक्टूबर 1947 को हस्ताक्षर किया था। जिसके बाद जम्मू-कश्मीर का पूर्ण क्षेत्र कानूनी रूप से भारत में शामिल हो गया था। गवर्नर जनरल माउंटबेटन ने हस्ताक्षर कर उसे स्वीकृति दी थी। इस प्रकार ब्रिटिश सरकार, कांग्रेस और मुस्लिम लीग द्वारा निर्धारित प्रक्रिया का पालन करते हुए जम्मू-कश्मीर भारत का अभिन्न अंग बना। वहीं भारत का संविधान भारत की जनता के निर्वाचित प्रतिनिधियों ने बनाया था, जिसमें जम्मू कश्मीर के भी चार प्रतिनिधि शामिल थे। जम्मू कश्मीर के पूर्व मुख्यमंत्री उमर अब्दुल्ला के दादा शेख अब्दुल्ला भी इनमें से एक थे। भारतीय संविधान के अनुच्छेद 1, अनुसूची १ में स्पष्ट लिखा है कि जम्मू-कश्मीर भारत संघ का एक राज्य है और 31 अक्टूबर 2019 से इसे केंद्र शासित प्रदेश जम्मू कश्मीर और केंद्र शासित प्रदेश लद्दाख घोषित किया गया है। पूर्व में राज्य तथा वर्तमान केंद्र शासित प्रदेश जम्मू-कश्मीर के सभी लोग भारत के नागरिक हैं और भारत का ही पासपोर्ट रखते है।
ओपन लेटर पर साइन करने वाले प्रतिष्ठित हस्तियों की लिस्ट-
