Row over restriction on the entry of journalists including Government accredited reporters into Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s office ended following clarification from the State Government that there would be no ban on entry of scribes and even general public.
The controversy was created on Thursday when a few journalists were allegedly not allowed to enter into ‘Swarnim Sankul’, a recently constructed state-of-the-art building, which houses the Chief Minister’s office (CMO) as well as his Cabinet colleagues.
Sources in the Secretariat said that the entry of reporters was allegedly restricted by security personnel at the Swarnim Sankul following Intelligence alerts that terrorists disguised as journalists are targeting BJP’s prime ministerial candidate. The security personnel were instructed not to allow any journalist without prior approval of the officials the reporters may want to meet.
Meanwhile, Opposition Congress party wasted no time to make the issue political and criticised the Gujarat Government for taking undemocratic decision to ban even the entry of journalists in the CMO. Gujarat Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi also demanded that the Government should disclose the reasons, why it is keeping mediapersons away from the CMO.
PP Vyas, DSP Secretariat security clarified that journalists are allowed to go into the CMO if the officials they want to meet ask the policemen on duty to allow them to come in. A police officer will accompany such a journalists till the officer’s cabin and the journalist will have to return with the same police officer after meeting the officer.
On Friday, State Government spokesman Nitin Patel clarified that reports on ban on entry of mediapersons inside the CMO were baseless and there is no restriction on scribes as well as general public. Patel said that entry would be given to everyone as per rules.