Chhattisgarh Assembly Speaker Gaurishankar Agrawal on Tuesday said that journalists covering the House proceedings must not mix the statements made by members outside the House with the business of the House in the same news being written by them.
The news on statements of the members made outside the House should be written separately, he said. “I have experienced that the conversation is not published in the same form when the members ask a question during the Question Hour in the House and the ministers offer their replies by the reporters covering the proceedings. The mixing of versions of the members make it appear as it was as per the House proceedings,’ he said.
Agrawal was addressing media persons at the day-long workshop for journalists on Parliamentary Reporting organised by Chhattisgarh legislative Assembly Secretariat here.
The programme inaugurated by Chief Minister Raman Singh and presided over by legislative Assembly Speaker Gaurishankar Agrawal. leader of Opposition TS Singhdeo and Parliamentary Works Minister Ajay Chandrakar were also present in the programme
He said that journalists engaged in reporting proceedings of Chhattisgarh legislative Assembly have the responsibility of reporting the House proceedings to the general public in such a manner that honour and prestige of the Assembly is not hampered.
Assembly proceedings should not be reported in a twisted or misleading manner, Agrawal said.
He further said that parliamentary reporters should have the quality of self-discipline and their perspective towards parliamentary set-up should be positive and respectful.
Parliamentary reporters should be well aware of the parliamentary terminology, proceedings, and rules, Agrawal said.
“The parliamentary reporter should inculcate the habit of self-discipline so that their outlook on House proceedings are positive in nature filled with respect for the House. The reporter must have complete knowledge of the House terminology, parliamentary process and the rules,” he said.
The Speaker stated that the reporters must visit the website of the Chhattisgarh Assembly regularly and go through the list of business conducted which are provided briefly in the website.
He said that the conversation which had been expunged by the Speaker should not be carried in the news on House proceedings.
In his address to the inaugural session, Chief Minister Raman Singh who was the chief guest on the occasion said that during the last 15 years since the formation of Chhattisgarh, journalists here have set an example before the country with their balanced reporting of legislative Assembly proceedings.
He praised the reporters for their quality reporting with adherence to rules and procedures. The Chief Minister congratulated Assembly Speaker Gaurishankar Agrawal for organizing the workshop prior to the upcoming Budget Session in the legislative Assembly.
leader of Opposition TS Singhdeo said that media has an important role to play in strengthening of democracy. Assembly proceedings should be as transparent as possible, he said.
Singhdeo said that progress of democracy requires participation of all. Parliamentary Works Minister Ajay Chandrakar said that like public representatives, journalists are also answerable to public. They should keep their responsibility towards public in mind, while reporting assembly proceedings, he said.
The inaugural speech of the Worskhop was delivered by Principal Secretary of legislative Assembly Devendra Verma. Veteran Journalist from Madhya Pradesh Somdutt Shastri and former Director General of Doordarshan leeladhar Mandloi were also present as key speakers of the workshop.