Karnataka assembly Speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri announced media restrictions within the Assembly premises today. Today the three-day winter session of the state assembly has started.
An official release by the Karnataka Legislative Assembly Secretary said that now only Doordarshan will be allowed to broadcast the feed. Other channels are now only permitted to download the downlink from the output provided.
Responding to the matter, Congress party has termed the government’s move as shameful. Congress party tweeted its comment on social media from its official account.
In another tweet. Congress has posted “The U-turn policy of BJP Karnataka is in the fore again. While in the opposition the BJP used to shed crocodile tears for free media, BS Yediyurappa had threatened to go on dharna for freedom of the press. When in power, the media has been barred from streaming the Assembly session. Such a shameful act.”
Former Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy also said that the BJP government is doing wrong by imposing such restrictions. The leader then promised to raise the matter in the House. He said, “The media is obligated to show the true colors of the BJP. I will appeal to the Speaker and raise this issue in the House”.
Finally clearing the air on the matter, Assembly secretary MK Vishalakshi said that there has been no restrictions. She said that the speaker has opted for such a decision on an experimental basis. She further added that the media is still allowed to take the soundbytes.
The controversy over the media restrictions came forward due to an incident in 2012 where a media channel had caught the few legislators watching porn. Following this, BJP members had to resign from the House.