Directives to media to seek interactions with Ministers at designated place at Vidhana Soudha draws flak from Opposition

The Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR) has issued a directive to the Information and Publicity Department instructing the media to obtain official video statements only at a designated location on the Vidhana Soudha premises, citing security concerns.

Direction not to follow

According to the directive, media personnel have been asked not to follow the Chief Minister or other Ministers when they enter the Vidhana Soudha to record video statements. Instead, all such interactions must take place at the specified area near the western gate of the Vidhana Soudha. The DPAR stated that this measure is being implemented in the interest of security.

The move has drawn sharp criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has termed the decision an attempt to curb media freedom under the guise of security.

Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly R. Ashok alleged that the decision was driven by fear that recent media reports exposing alleged theft of gold and cash and illegal transactions in the office of Minister Byrathi Suresh would receive further attention.

After hate speech Bill

State BJP president B.S. Vijayendra also condemned the directive, claiming that after the government’s “misadventure” in attempting to implement the hate speech Bill, it was now seeking to restrict media freedom within the Vidhana Soudha. He described the circular as highly condemnable and an attempt to impose curbs on the media in the name of security.

“The Siddaramaiah-led government has something to hide and somebody to shield. That’s the reason why the government has banned the entry of electronic media into the Vidhana Soudha,” he said.

JD(S) youth wing president Nikhil Kumaraswamy questioned the constitutional basis for imposing such restrictions on the media within the Vidhana Soudha. He called on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to ensure that the Karnataka government upholds constitutional values and criticised the circular as reminiscent of the Emergency era.

The Opposition leaders are demanding that the government reconsider its decision.