Journalists march to parliament demanding lifting of restriction on their entry in parliament complex and press gallery
A conglomerate of various bodies of media persons today (Dec-02-2021) participated in a protest march organised at the PCI premises to voice their concerns pertaining to the unwarranted restrictions imposed on the media freternity to enter the Parliament complex and the Press Galleries to carry out their professional obligations.
Subsequently today a two-member delegation comprising PCI President Umakant Lakhera and Vice President Shahid K Abbas called on the Hon Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla and apprised him of the prevailing disenchantment among the large section of media persons in the wake of the restrictions imposed on the entry of journalists into Parliament complex.
The delegation handed over a copy of the resolution adopted after the march and a memorandum of demands to the Hon Speaker.
The Speaker assured the the delegation that he will look into the issue and try to resolve the impasse taking all prevailing aspects including the Covid situation onto consideration.
The two-member delegation also visited the Parliament office of Rajya Sabha Chairman Shri Venkaiah Naidu. Since the Hon Chairman was not in office a copy of the memorandum was received by his office.
The Memorandum states :
We all acknowledge that the Parliament is in session and the Temple of Democracy is the nerve centre of political activity in the country and the media and the press are a vital interface between the people and the Parliament.
The journalists empower the citizens of the country with information and updates through their Parliamentary coverage by disseminating information about ruling coalitions and various opposition parties.
Sir, the restrictions have played havoc and made the situation much more difficult for media persons in carrying out their professional duties/responsibilities and had led to large-scale retrenchments in the fraternity.
We the members of the media fraternity therefore most humbly appeal to your good-self to kindly reconsider the existing restrictions on media persons and restore the entry of press persons into Parliament while ensuring Covid-19 safety protocols.
Memorandum of Demands:
1) Restore the entry of all journalists having permanent passes to the Parliament complex and the Press Gallery.
2) Implement the earlier/previous decision taken by the Hon Speaker, Lok Sabha Shri Om Birla, in July 2021 to allow all journalists holding permanent passes into Parliament.
3) Restore entry of veteran journalist into Central Hall of Parliament.
4) Restore the L&D category for senior and veteran journalist as a mark of honour of their long services in the profession.
5) Reconstitute Press Advisory Committee at the earliest.
