Dispur slams door on scribes

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, April 10: Is the Assam government planning to ban the media inside the Dispur Assembly Secretariat?  In an incident on Friday, a group of jourlists having accreditation and recognition cards issued by the District Information and Public Relations (DIPR) office here, was barred by security personnel from entering the Secretariat, citing orders from higher authorities.  The security personnel also said that an extra pass will be needed to enter the Secretariat and only accreditation and recognition cards will not serve the purpose.

It may be mentioned here that the DIPR provides accreditation and recognition cards to jourlists after proper police verification. Jourlists having DIPR cards are entitled to enter the Secretariat, a practice going on for decades.

Irate jourlists then contacted Additiol Chief Secretary MGVK Bhanu over phone but he feigned ignorance about the treatment meted out to them. However, Bhanu told the Home Commissioner and Secretary to look into the matter.

Later a group of jourlists met Home Commissioner and Secretary LS Changsan to discuss the issue and she promised to look into the matter.

Media circles are now asking whether some top ranking police officials with vested interests, are now trying to create a schism between jourlists and the State government with the Assembly elections only a year away.

Don’t the higher officials who are in charge of the Secretariat’s security have any knowledge about the accreditation and recognition cards provided to the jourlists by the DIPR?