Journalists protest restrictions on access in Indian parliament
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Journalists staged a protest outside India's Parliament on Monday, expressing their concerns over being restricted from interacting with Members of Parliament (MPs) within the premises.
The Press Club of India highlighted that reporters were barred from accessing Makar Dwar, an entrance commonly used by journalists to engage with legislators. A video shared by the Press Club depicted journalists waiting in a room outside the new Parliament building.
The incident follows recent appeals from the Editors Guild of India to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Rajya Sabha Chairperson Jagdeep Dhankhar, urging the removal of pandemic-era restrictions that hinder journalists' access to parliamentary proceedings. The Guild noted that the restrictions, which limit the number of journalists with access to both Houses, were introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Despite around 1,000 journalists being accredited to cover parliamentary sessions, only a small number are currently granted access.
The Editors Guild emphasized that unrestricted access for journalists has been a longstanding practice since the first Parliament session in 1952. This access is considered essential for keeping the public informed about the activities and developments within Parliament, a crucial aspect of a parliamentary democracy.