After a day-long protest by the mediapersons over the security norms to curb the movement of journalists in the Parliament premises on Monday, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla met a group of journalists and assured them that all their grievances would be redressed and better facilities would be provided to them to discharge their duties.
Print and TV journalists routinely record comments from MPs near the entry and exit points of the Parliament building but on Monday they were restricted to a porta-cabin enclosure made for them. Reporters were removed from Parliament’s Makar Dwar where they usually interact with MPs. Makar Dwar is one of the entrances to the new Parliament building.
Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi raised the issue in the Lok Sabha and requested the Speaker to remove the restrictions imposed on the media within Parliament premises.
“Sir, I would request you to allow the media, who have been restricted to a cage, to move out,” Rahul said in the Lok Sabha. Birla reminded Rahul about the rules of procedures of Parliament and said such issues should be discussed with him in person and not be raised on the floor of the House.
Rahul and other Opposition leaders such as Trinamool Congress leader Derek O’Brien, Congress MP Karti Chidambaram, and Shiv Sena-UBT MP Priyanka Chaturvedi met mediapersons in the media enclosure.
“This is censorship. This is completely unacceptable. We are with you in this fight,” O’Brien said.