The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Government, on Monday, proscribed the entry of mediapersons to the Delhi Government Secretariat leading to vehement protests from by those covering the beat. The orders to this effect were issued by the Secretary to the Chief Minister.
The matter was resolved after mediapersons protested over the decision as they thought it was an attempt to muzzle the media. Manish Sisodia, No. 2 in the Arvind Kejriwal Government, came forward to talk to the agitating scribes and only then was entry relaxed. The decision to ban the entry of mediapersons was taken on Saturday itself in a meeting presided over by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. The AAP leadership felt that mediapersons were too ‘intrusive’ and that was hampering the functioning of the Government. The decision was kept a secret.
The ban was effective from 9 am on Monday and the journalists were in for a shock when they arrived at Gate No.6 of the Players Building; only to be curtly told by the security personnel at the gate that entry has been banned with immediate effect. Soon, this information reached other mediapersons, who arrived after that. It led protest by the scribes, who sat on dharna in the Press room — situated near the gate.
The ban on entry of mediapersons affected the Press conference of Satyendra Jain, the Health Minister, as scribes were prevented from entering the premises. Chaos continued till 3.30 pm and TV channels started running the story about media being banned. later, Manish Sisodia — the Minister for Revenue, Urban Development and Education — came talked to the mediapersons. The issue was resolved with the Government revoking its order to ban entry of journalists.