SRINAGAR, January 26: Former finance minister Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari has strongly condemned the restrictions placed on entry of some journalists who had visited Sher-e-Kashmir Stadium in Sonwar to cover Republic Day function today.

In a statement issued here, Bukhari termed the precincts on journalists as an unwarranted interference of administration in professional duties of scribes. “This is totally unfortunate on part of the civil and security apparatus who barred the entry of journalists to cover the Republic Day celebrations in Srinagar,” the former minster observed while cautioning the administration to restrain from such diktats in future.

Bukhari said the undaunted spirit of journalistic fraternity—both working for print and electronic media in Jammu and Kashmir is praiseworthy.

“The journalists in this trouble torn state have been covering events, most often, while putting their lives at risk. It is this Fourth Estate that has contributed immensely in keeping the spirit of democracy alive in this tumultuous region. So any type of restrictions on journalists, unwarranted under law, tantamount to fiddling with the democratic ethos of this country,” the former finance minster observed.