Jammu, Aug 8: The Jammu and Kashmir Excise Department officials Saturday said that some media men are defaming the Excise Department by painting wrong picture without checking the facts on ground.
Officials of the department told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that some media persons known for “black mailing and putting paid news” are bent upon to defame Excise Department and the liquor trade. “Relevant to mention that such media persons are already undergoing many legal cases pending in the court of law for defaming and publishing fake paid news,” they said.
They said that recently a news blaming liquor manufacturers and painting excise department as an incompetent department has been circulated for befooling the administration at the top and perhaps with a motive to create impression that liquor manufacturer are in a position to restrain excise department from implementing policy approved by the Administrative Council under the chairmanship of Lieutenant Governor.
“Some media men circulating the news perhaps don’t know that every year Excise Police is made by the Excise Department and the Excise Commissioner after consulting his field and administrative staff keeping in view the tax structure of adjoining states propose the policy to the Principal Secretary Finance who after threadbare discussions and further scrutinizing the details forward the policy to the Finance Minister a portfolio which was recently held by ex-Lieutenant Governor G.C.Murmu a person known for his honesty and expertise on financial matters,” officials said, adding that “After the approval of Finance Minister(Lieutenant General) it is to be implemented through the office of the Principal Secretary which can’t be changed. These facts confirm that some mischievous elements are planting such fake news to defame excise department and the liquor trade.”—(KNO)
