Freedom of press: BSY to urge Speaker to reconsider ban on pvt media channels

Bengaluru: Reiterating his commitment towards freedom of press, chief minister BS Yediyurappa said that he would urge Assembly Speaker Vishweshwara Hegde Kageri to reconsider the decision to bar private media channels from streaming the assembly proceedings.

On Wednesday, Kageri said that assembly proceedings will be telecast through the lens of Doordarshan and not private news channels. Private news channels were asked to link themselves to Doordarshan if they wished to show happenings inside the House.

Shortly after the announcement, Congress targeted the chief minister for shedding crocodile tears for Free media while in the opposition.

“..While in opposition BJP used to shed crocodile tears for Free media.. @BSYBJP had threatened to go on dharna for freedom of press. When in power media has been barred from streaming the assembly session, such a shameful act,” the Karnataka unit of the Congress tweeted.

Responding to the critics, Yediyurappa, in a tweet said: “My government is fully committed to freedom of press. I will urge Speaker Vishweshwara Hegde Kageri to reconsider his decision on barring private media channels from telecasting the assembly proceedings.”

The three-day winter session of the state Assembly commenced today.