New Delhi: The starting days of the new AAP government in Delhi saw media's presence severely curtailed. The newly-appointed Arvind Kejriwal government, on Monday, kept the secretariat out of bounds of media which was eager to interact with them and take a look at its plans and programs.
At the maiden press meet with deputy CM Manish Sisodia too, there was too much chaos and Sisodia left the conference abruptly when journalists sought party's clarification over media's restricted entry into the secretariat.
Later, during the rest of the day also, the CM and his cabinet remained inaccessible and media was given only a half-an-hour window for a photo opportunity.
As reported by Times of India, this has sparked apprehension on new government's policy on press freedom. There are no protocols defined for its interaction with the media.
On Saturday, the government chose to restrict flow of information by holding one press conference and the same continued till Monday.
When asked, Kejriwal's media advisor Nagendra Sharma stood clueless regarding the issue. He, rather, said that the government was trying to find out who has imposed the ‘ban'. Sharma assured that the new system will come into effect to regulate the media entry from Tuesday.
It is being speculated that the restriction orders from the bureaucracy cannot be ordered without directions of the CM.
As reported by the daily, the staff at the counter outside the secretariat, where entry passes are made for non-accredited journalists, had turned the media persons away citing directions from the general administration department. No one was allowed inside for taking photographs or to interact with the ministers.
On Monday, when the media persons were hoping to capture the CM and his team at work at the secretariat, they were restricted there also. Even accredited journalists were also not allowed. The entry of the press was restricted to the media centre only, near gate number 6.
A single photo opportunity was created at around 4 PM when due to lack of coordination among the staff it did not turn out successful. Later, similar thing happened in the press conference also which was arranged at 5 PM.
