Karnataka government withdraws order on media ban at Vidhana Soudha

Team Udayavani, Jul 21, 2021, 11:46 AM IST

Bengaluru: The State Government decided to withdraw its order restricting the print and electronic media from taking videos and photographs in the corridors of the Vidhana Soudha, with immediate effect after facing widespread criticism.

Earlier, Assembly Speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri had banned the electronic media from covering the proceedings of the legislature session by preventing cameras from coming inside. He, however, allowed reporters of the electronic media to cover the proceedings.

The decision by the State government to restrict the movement of electronic media personnel had come under attack.

This was not the first time that the government has tried to restrict the media.

In 2018, when H D Kumaraswamy was Chief Minister, restrictions had been imposed on media persons entering the Vidhana Soudha, Vikasa Soudha and the Secretariat. However, the order was revoked after the Opposition and media slammed the government. In 2019, the BJP government restricted recording of the Assembly session proceedings.