Keshav Pradhan opposes Mamata’s stand on non-accredited journos

Prashant Acharya, EOI, Siliguri, 24 November 2013: Veteran journalist Keshav Pradhan, the regional editor of The Times of India, has raised objections to chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s directive of allowing only accredited journalists to cover government news.

During Mamata’s last visit to Siliguri, journalists without accreditation had been barred from entering the press box during her public speech in Shivmandir. Now, the scribes have been told to keep away from the booths where counting of votes are taking place following Saturday’s by-election.

Pradhan said journalists are now mostly retained as stringers or on contract basis, while foreign media houses in India do not have any accreditation cards.

He also said such a rule does not exist in Sikkim where the government has given the responsibility of recommending journalists to the Sikkim Press Club. Pradhan further said the rule is also not applicable in Kolkata and press passes are provided if the Press Club recommends any journalist. The Siliguri Journalists' Club should protest against the chief minister’s stand and all journalists from North Bengal should unite on this issue, he suggested.

During an interactive session today at the Siliguri Journalists' Club, Pradhan advised scribes to always keep a positive mindset while covering news items and to refrain from bloating up minor errors made by political leaders in their speeches into something sensational.

The veteran journalist noted North Bengal has a distinct identity given its tea, tourism and the fact that it borders Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and China. As a parting note, Pradhan remarked that working in North Bengal and Sikkim is much better than being stationed in Kolkata or Mumbai.