Parliament Monsoon Session: A restriction was imposed on media personnel, particularly television reporters, in Parliament amid the ongoing monsoon session of Parliament. Following the decision, reporters were confined to a glass enclosure. The restriction led to a protest by media personnel.
The move drew criticism from several leaders across part lines including, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, who urged Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to "release the media from the prison."
The restrictions and confinement of media personnel triggered a heated debate pertaining to press freedom and access within the parliamentary precincts.
On Monday, Rahul Gandhi requested Om Birla to remove the restrictions imposed on the media within Parliament premises. "Sir, I would request you to allow the media, who have been restricted to a cage, to move out," Gandhi said in the Lower House.
Media persons have been recording comments from members of parliament on camera near the entry and exit points of the Parliament building, but now they have been restricted to an enclosure made for them.
Birla reminded Gandhi about the rules of procedures of Parliament and said such issues should be discussed with him in person and not be raised on the floor of the House.
The Lok Sabha LoP and other opposition leaders such as Trinamool Congress leader Derek O'Brien, Congress MP Karti Chidambaram, and Shiv Sena-UBT MP Priyanka Chaturvedi met media persons in the media enclosure. "This is censorship. This is completely unacceptable. We are with you in this fight," O'Brien said.
TMC leader Tanmoy Ghosh said, "Journalists, key to democracy, protest in Parliament against restrictions on their movement, forced to stand at "Makar Dwar" instead of interacting freely with MPs. This suppression echoes fascism. It’s obvious why Press Freedom Index in India is at lowest. Noticeably, no Godi Media is present."
Later, the Lok Sabha speaker met a group of journalists and assured them that all their grievances would be addressed and better facilities would be provided to them to discharge their duties.
TMC MP Sagarika Ghose took to X and said, "Solidarity with journalist colleagues who have been removed from in front of Parliament . Shocking and unacceptable. Undeclared Emergency of the non biological again on display".
Act Of Autocracy, Says Mamata Banerjee
Trinamool Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee on Monday termed as an “act of autocracy" restrictions imposed on the media within Parliament premises. “It is an act of autocracy... The opposition should stand together against this dictatorial act,” she said, as quoted by PTI.