News18 Urdu fires dozens of Kashmiri journalists

Srinagar: In a series of media houses laying off staff due to COVID-19 pandemic hitting their budgets, News18 Urdu has become the latest to feel the heat with its management forcibly asking some 20 journalists from its Jammu and Kashmir Bureau to resign.

News18 Urdu, a television network that broadcasts in Urdu, is owned by Network 18 which is owned and operated by Reliance Industries.

Dozens of journalists are associated with the media group in Jammu and Kashmir with some being very senior who have worked for the group since its inception.

Many Journalists working for News18 Urdu in Jammu and Kashmir told Kashmir News Trust that they received phone calls from the group headquarters asking them to tender resignations. Most of the journalists have followed and are now looking for other options.

“Journalists part of this media group working in Kupwara, Baramulla, Bandipora, Kulgam, Anantnag and Pulwama have been asked to resign,” said one of the journalists on the condition of anonymity.

“No prior written communication was made,” said another journalist.

When HR Head News18 Urdu Madhusudhan Manda was contacted, he feigned ignorance and said that he is not aware of the matter. KNT