Journalists in Garo Hills were today denied entry to cover the three-day budget session of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) at the eleventh hour without any notification.
Reporters and camera crews stated that district council authorities did not allow them to cover the budget session even as they had attended for the last two days.
“For the last two days there was no problem, but suddenly today we were barred from entry and asked to show the permission order,” journalists complained.
GHADC Chairman Rakesh A Sangma said that a new rule has been put in place that restricts public from carrying mobile phones in a gallery above the hall. He said reporters need to identify themselves and obtain necessary permission from the Chairman’s office.
“We have come up with a new rule that requires permission for anyone covering the session because in the past unruly scenes that took place during debates have been misused and spread via social media depicting the house in poor light,” Sangma stated.
He cited an incident of the previous house when the then Congress MDC from Asanang, Ismail Marak allegedly banged the table and used unparliamentary language during a no-confidence motion between the then NPP EC of Dipul Marak and the opposition Congress.
“There is nothing hidden in the order. No media person will be barred from entry. All they have to do is just apply for permission and it shall be granted,” the chairman said.
Meanwhile, visitors keen to witness future house sessions from the public gallery will henceforth be required to surrender their phones before entry as part of the new rules put in place in the GHADC.
