Mamata carves out ‘no entry zone’ for journalists in Writers’ VIP zone

The order was conveyed to the media by Special Commissioner of Kolkata Police Shivaji Ghosh. He ordered the removal of all TV cameras and journalists who assemble at the area every day to cover government events.

The chief minister had given a hint of the restrictions on Monday night when she said only the CM will henceforth use the podium in the VIP zone to address the media.

On Tuesday,the police went a step further and restricted the unhindered movement of journalists.

When confronted by an angry media as the new system led to chaos,Shivaji Ghosh expressed helplessness. “I am just carrying out orders that I have received from the top. This is being done for security reasons. I understand your problems but I am helpless,’’ the special CP said.

Citing security reasons,metal detectors have already been installed on two sides of the chief minister’s office.

Even former chief ministers Jyoti Basu and Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee did not have such a secluded zone during their tenure.

Journalists asked Ghosh how could the media be a security threat when the chief minister moves around in an ordinary car without a pilot vehicle,sits on the front seat and freely mingles with the public.

Two months after she came to power,the chief minister had set up a new air-conditioned,wi-fi press room equipped with a fax machine and two LCD TV sets. The whole exercise,now it seems,was aimed at confining reporters at the press corner.

This was followed by the removal of chairs in front of the chief secretary’s and home secretary’s chambers. After that,the entry of journalists was banned in the offices of the chief secretary,the home secretary and home (special) secretary.

The CPM refused to join the issue. “What is the press club doing? You fight your own battle first and then we will see,’’ Shyamal Chakrabarti,CPM central committee member,said.

Intellectuals who steadfastly supported Mamata during her campaign were peeved at the move.

“I will wait for 200 days from the day Mamata came to power and then I will speak my mind,’’ educationist Sunanda Sanyal said.