The Congress has questioned the State Government’s move to apparently restrict media persons from collecting information from the secretariat. Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee chief spokesman Mathura Datt Joshi said, “By taking such a decision, the Bharatiya Janata Party Government is trying to impose undeclared emergency-like situation in the State.
This move which appears to be aimed at muzzling the fourth estate shows the Government’s anti-democratic stance.
On the one hand there is talk of bringing about transparency in the functioning of the Government and on the other hand, an attempt is being made to restrict the media undertaking its task of collecting information in public interest from the secretariat,” said Joshi.
He further said, “When one talks of information being leaked to the media before being tabled in the cabinet meetings, the Government should also State whether it has taken any action against its officials who were responsible for leaking the information in the first place,” the PCC chief spokesman said.
He also questioned what the Government was trying to hide from the media and the public.