MACHILIPATNAM: At a time when the Right to Information (RTI) Act is said to have ushered in an era of openness and transparency in governance, representatives of the print and electronic media in Krishna district on Sunday had an unsavoury experience.

The media persons were barred from covering the meeting of the District Review Committee (DRC) in the Zilla Parishad office here, thanks to a decision taken by Panchayat Raj Minister J.C. Diwakar Reddy, who presided over the meeting in his capacity as in-charge Minister of the district.

The decision kicked up a controversy as members of the media described it as "a negation of the RTI Act," while the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) too accused Mr. Reddy of functioning in an "autocratic manner".

When the proceedings of the DRC meet were about to begin around 11 a.m., Mr. Reddy asked reporters to vacate the hall.

He refused to listen to their arguments and stuck to his stance.

The disappointed presspersons came out of the hall and some of them raised slogans against the Minister. They picked up arguments with some Congress MLAs and MPs, who arrived late.

While local MP Badiga Ramakrishna chose to distance himself from any controversy, Vijayawada MP Lagadapati Rajagopal assured to take up the matter with Mr. Reddy.

MLAs Mandali Buddha Prasad and Perni Venkataramaiah (Nani) also promised to talk to the in-charge Minister.

But nothing changed the situation, as the DRC meeting was completed as an in-camera affair.

Mr. Buddha Prasad maintained that the in-charge Minister had the authority to deny entry to the media.

However, CPI(M) MLA from Nidumolu Paturi Ramaiah said that the media should have been given a chance to cover the DRC meet to maintain transparency.

The Minister, who assured to brief the media about the deliberations, left the venue without making any attempt to meet the press.

TDP flays move

The TDP was quick to seize the chance and criticised Mr. Reddy for introducing `Anantapur style of functioning' in Krishna district too. Nandigama MLA Devineni Umamaheswara Rao said denial of entry to the press amounted to curtailing their rights.

"This is not the only instance. This minister is known for his undemocratic functioning," Mr. Rao said.

He further said that the Minister was afraid that the presence of the media in the meeting hall would bring out facts about irregularities in Pulichintala project and the plight of farmers under Nagarjunasagar canal.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail