the goan I network
PANAJI
All India Congress Committee secretary Girish Chodankar on Wednesday demanded the roll-back of the guidelines issued by the Speaker of Goa Legislative Assembly for the media while terming the newly issued guidelines as “undemocratic, unconstitutional and seeking to stifle the voice of free press”.
Speaking at Congress House, Chodankar stated, “The guidelines for accreditation of media organizations and their representatives issued by the Speaker are an attack on free press. If the BJP government had understood the Constitution, such guidelines wouldn’t have been issued. The Speaker should have prevented this. He is not above the constitution.”
Congress has threatened to stage a public protest if the guidelines aren’t duly rolled back by the Speaker while questioning the need for such measures to be put in place.
“Why did the BJP government feel the need to issue such guidelines to keep the media out of the Assembly complex? Was it because there was reportage about the anti-people policies of this government?” Chodankar demanded.
He also sought to point out that the existing procedures are strong enough to rap the knuckles of reporters and media houses if they indulge in false reportage.
“Has the speaker read the guidelines properly before these guidelines were issued to the media? Has he read the constitution?” Chodankar lashed out.
He further said that barring two to three Goan media houses, none would pass the test as per the new requirements floated by the government.
“Congress opened the doors of the Assembly for the people through the eyes of media and the BJP are now closing these doors. In this era, more openness should be promoted. Government should promote each and every hard-working honest journalist,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Chodankar also questioned the silence of the alliance partners on the issue and alleged that their silence indicates that the they have consented to the move.
