PCI rejects activists' claim on PC denial
New Delhi: Following a hubbub at the Press Club of India here on Wednesday, where eminent economist Jean Dreze was supposed to hold a press conference along with journalists who wanted to showcase video footage of the situation in Kashmir after the Central government effectively abrogated Article 370 and Article 35A, the Press Club of India has put out a statement, listing the facts of the day.
On Wednesday, there were claims that the PCI had denied the organisers permission to show the video footage, but the Press Club in its statement mentioned that the organisers had not specified that they would need the facilities to show video footage.
It said that the box for whether such facilities would be required was left empty because of which it assumed that it would not require the video facility.
In its statement, the PCI said that the conference hall booked by the organisers had a capacity of 60 people and when the event was supposed to begin, 250-300 people had arrived, due to which the PCI said there was a "stampede like situation".
The PCI then asked the organisers to move to the ground floor lawn for holding the press conference. However, because no facilities to show video footage were available on lawn, the event could not proceed with it.
The Press Club added, "The Press Club of India regrets the conduct of some of the persons, on behalf of the organizers, who are spreading the rumour that the PCI had withheld permission to show videos which is totally false and concocted. By twisting facts and presenting a totally different picture, PCI is being dragged into an unseemly and uncalled for controversy. The PCI has always given space to different organisations for holding their seminars and press conferences and uphold the freedom of expression as guaranteed in our Constitution and will continue to do the same in future. The PCI also abhors the tendency to spread baseless rumours on social media and websites about the institution."
