Bengaluru: Journalists here staged a protest today in the Vidhana Soudha premises on Friday (February 20). The media personnel voiced their dissent in front of the Mahatma Gandhi statue, opposing recent directives issued by the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR). The new set of directives restricts media access within the State secretariat.
Wearing black attire and black masks as a mark of protest, media personnel expressed objection to the circular that mandates journalists to obtain official video statements only at a designated location near the western gate of Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru.
The directive also instructs media representatives not to follow the Chief Minister or other ministers inside the premises to record statements.
The DPAR stated that the restrictions have been implemented in the interest of security.
The journalists submitted a representation to K.V. Prabhakar, media advisor to the Chief Minister, who assured that the concerns raised would be looked into and that the contents of the circular would be reviewed.
The protesting journalists argued that the new restrictions hamper routine media coverage and limit access to elected representatives.
The move was contested by the BJP-led Opposition, which has termed the decision an attempt to curb media freedom under the guise of security.