Rahul, Mamata on same boat over ‘restrictions’ on media in Parliament

PTI & Agencies, New Delhi & Kolkata, Jul 29, 2024 : Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee were on the same boat on Monday over the issue of ‘restrictions’ imposed on media in the Parliament premises. 

Rahul on Monday requested Lok Sabha Speaker 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," he said in the Lok Sabha. 

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 the Congress MP 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.

Rahul 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.

Meanwhile, in Kolkata, Mamata 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. However, the Lok Sabha speaker later met a group of journalists and assured them that all their grievances would be addressed and better facilities provided to discharge their duties.  

Trinamool Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee on Monday termed as an “act of autocracy” restrictions imposed on the media within Parliament premises.

Media persons have been recording comments from MPs on camera near the entry and exit points of the Parliament building, but now they have been restricted to an enclosure made for them.

“It is an act of autocracy… The opposition should stand together against this dictatorial act,” she said.

Earlier in the day, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi requested Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to remove the restrictions imposed on the media.

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.

Gandhi and other opposition leaders such as TMC 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.

The Lok Sabha speaker later met a group of journalists, and assured them that all their grievances would be addressed and better facilities provided to discharge their duties.