KTKA govt to restrict visitors to Vidhana Soudha

The Karnataka government today said there would be certain restrictions on the entry of visitors, including the media, to the Vidhana Soudha, the seat of state legislature and secretariat here.

Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy cited police inputs regarding security, as also increase in the number of people visiting it everyday besides complaints about inconvenience caused to ministers and officials to carry out their work as reasons for the move.

"Some brokers are found moving around the corridors of Vidhana Soudha and they have been captured by CCTV also.

"I have asked officials to be alert about those who are involved in brokering and are misleading people. To avoid any unlawful activities we have said there should be certain restrictions," he told reporters here.

To a question about reports on media's entry to the Vidhana Soudha being barred, he said there were no instructions to not allow the media inside, but there would be separate enclosure or a room provided for them.

"When you (media) need any information, officials or ministers will come there and give you information...if you come with mikes everywhere individually and start asking questions just like that...it should not happen, there should not be any inconvenience," he said.

Pointing out that media persons come to ministers, including him, individually with mikes to gather information, Kumaraswamy said "When you come to us in Vidhana Soudha we may be in meetings or some other mood, suddenly if you come with mikes, what to tell you...we may not have information."