The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Journalists barred from coverage of counting

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Mar 23, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Journalists barred from coverage of counting

Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD: Journalists who had gathered on the Assembly premises to cover the Council elections were denied entry into the area earmarked for polling and counting.

Those carrying valid passes issued by the Election Commission of India made a bid to reach Committee Hall I on the first floor where the polling was held. They were engaged in heated arguments with the police demanding that they be allowed inside. They pointed out that even in the Rajya Sabha elections in which MLAs and MPs are electors, journalists are allowed to be present both during polling and counting. This was the first time in an indirect election that the press was being barred from coverage, they added.

Chief Marshall of the Assembly P. Ashok Gajapati Raju took a pass issued to journalists to EC's observers to verify whether they could enter the polling booth. But, the observers refused permission. The authorities pasted a notice outside stating that media personnel were barred from entering the booth.

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Andhra Pradesh