Bengaluru: Journalists and camerapersons staged a protest in the city on Friday, October 11, against the state Assembly Speaker’s decision to ban the broadcast of House proceedings.
The protest was held by scribes from various print and electronic media at the Gandhi Statue. Even former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy showed up to support the protesting journalists.
It can be recalled that Karnataka Assembly Speaker Vishweshwara Hegde Kageri had recently banned private TV news channels from entering the Assembly and telecasting the proceedings. Only Doordarshan has been granted permission to enter and broadcast the proceedings.
Journos from various Kannada news channels and national media representatives had met Kageri on Thursday to persuade him to rescind the decision, however, their efforts were for naught.
The scribes’ protest has also got support from JD(S) supremo and former prime minister H D Devegowda.
He alleged that the incumbent state government is intentionally trying to snatch the freedom of the media.
“As the national president, Janata Dal (Secular), I object the Karnataka Speaker’s decision taken on October 9 of banning national and regional private TV channels from telecasting the proceedings of the Karnataka Assembly live. This kind of attitude of the present government shows that it is intentionally snatching the freedom of media, thereby avoiding the public to watch the ongoing proceedings in the Assembly,” Deve Gowda said in a press statement.
“I, on my behalf and on behalf of my party will support your (journalists’) move to get your freedom of press back in letter and spirit. We should not allow these things to happen. We hope and trust that this government will reconsider its decision,” he added.
Sources claimed that Kageri was following the BJP leaders’ directions to not allow the media to telecast the House proceedings so as to prevent the public from viewing the House proceedings
Kageri said, earlier, that the ban was for three days on a trial basis. He had told the reporters that he was merely following the rules.
Regarding the issue, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa had said that he would try to convince Speaker Kageri to reconsider his decision.
(With inputs from ANI)
