Oppn parties condemn media restrictions at state secretariat

Condemning restrictions imposed by the state government on movement of mediapersons at the secretariat, opposition parties today termed the order as "restricting democracy" in West Bengal.
"It is not imposition of restriction on mediapersons. It is imposition of restricted democracy in the state and an effort by the state government from stopping the naked truth about this government to come out," CPI(M) leader Mohammed Salim told PTI.
The West Bengal government today restricted movement of mediapersons in the state secretariat Nabanna by issuing an official circular.
The circular was issued by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Reserve Force), Kolkata Police, Ashoke Kumar Biswas, earmarking "Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) restricting entry of mediapersons inside Nabanna and their movement from Press Corner to other areas of the secretariat."

"The state government should take care of the CM's security, but while doing so it should also not intrude in the privacy and right of the press and media as they are the fourth pillar of democracy," Congress leader Manas Bhuniya said.
In a strongly worded statement, the Kolkata Press Club today rejected the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) notified by the West Bengal Government regarding restriction on movement of mediapersons at the state secretariat Nabanna, demanding its immediate withdrawal.

"The media community of the state and the Press Club in particular view this move by the state government as nothing but an atrocious attempt to gag the media and make it paralytic," Press Club president Sudipta Sengupta and secretary Anindya Sengupta said in a joint statement.

They also demanded that appropriate authorities in the government should apologise for the insult heaped on mediapersons and assure not to repeat this in future.
"The insinuation suggested in the notification that journalists are a threat to the VIPs is grossly insulting to the media community," they said.
Stating that Indian democracy had always unequivocally rejected attempts of press censorship, they said "There shall be no exception in this case as well."
"No stone will be left unturned to ensure survival and smooth functioning of the fourth estate," they added.