Pulitzer Prize 2020 picks fake news; 132 eminent personalities write an open letter expressing anger and protest
| 10-May-2020 |
In an open letter, nearly 132 eminent figures from the country have hit out at the Pulitzer board over their faulty selection criteria to distribute Pulitzer Awards and legitimizing completely fake news. Raising some serious concerns, they have collectively expressed their doubts and anger over the feature reports of the Associated Press in the Feature Photography category, while exposing it with the facts. An appeal has also been made to the Board of Directors of the Pulitzer Prize 2020 and the selectors to stop honoring journalists who promote false news and terrorism in India. Unlike times when an entire country takes pride in praising the winners of International platforms, people across the country are deeply upset over the recent defamation of the country through Pulitzer awards 2020.
On May 5, three photojournalists Channi Anand, Dar Yasin and Mukhtar Khan of the Associated Press news agency were awarded the Pulitzer Prize for their Kashmir coverage in the feature photography category. However, photographs and captions of photojournalists, Dar Yasin and Mukhtar Khan have been condemned by large section of people in the country having led to the contempt of Indian Constitution. Usage of words like ‘Indian controlled Kashmir” for Jammu and Kashmir which is an integral part of India have left people fumed. Following which, some of the leading personalities nationwide stepped forward to write an open letter.
The personalities include 5 of Padma Shri honors like Padam Shri Jawahar Lal Kaul, Padam Shri KK Aggarwal, Vice-Chancellors of 14 universities from across the country, Wrestlers Geeta Phogat, Yogeshwar Dutt and MP Kiran Kher are also among the signatories of the open letter.
Pulitzer website clearly shows the names of the three photojournalists from India along with other awardees. It further states, "For striking images of life in the ‘contested territory’ of Kashmir as India revoked its independence, executed through a communications blackout". Shockingly enough, Dar Yasin and Mukhtar Khan have used the term ‘disputed territory’ in the caption below their photos despite POJK, including Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan an integral part of India.
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 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)
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)
The open letter, however, by bringing up such factual blunders in these photo reports has disclosed some eye-opening facts thus exposing the Fake News.
Contrary to this, the incident dated 21 March 2019 happened when two Pakistani terrorists, Ali and Hubab, took hostage of 11-year-old Atif and his uncle in their house itself. While the boy’s uncle was rescued by the security forces, the child was killed by the terrorists, although security forces succeeded in gunning down both the terrorists later. But Yasin's news in the Associated Press held the security forces responsible for the child's murder, when all other media houses based on facts called the killing a murder by Pakistani terrorists only.
Terms like ‘Contested Territory' and 'India controlled’ for Kashmir strikes at the sovereignty and integrity of India and is in contempt of the Indian Constitution. But despite all this, the Pulitzer Board gave the award to these journalists.
The open letter issued against the Pulitzer Board, also informs the Board of Directors about the history of Jammu and Kashmir. Stresses upon the factual history of Kashmir it mentions how Maharaja Hari Singh of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir signed the Instrument of Accession on 26 October 1947, post which the entire territory of Jammu and Kashmir was legally incorporated into India. It was signed and approved by Governor General Mountbatten himself.
Jammu and Kashmir then became an integral part of India by following the procedure laid down by the British Government, Congress and Muslim League. At the same time, the Constitution of India was made by the elected representatives of the people of India, including four representatives of Jammu and Kashmir. Sheikh Abdullah, grandfather of former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, was also one of them. Article 1, Schedule 1 of the Constitution of India clearly states that Jammu and Kashmir is a state of the Union of India and from 31 October 2019 it has been declared a Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and Union Territory of Ladakh. In the past, all the people of the state and the present Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir are citizens of India and also own a passport of India only.
