Journalists protest mobile phone ban in Odisha Assembly press gallery

Bhubaneswar, March 12: Journalists covering the Odisha Assembly staged a protest on Wednesday after being barred from carrying mobile phones inside the press gallery. In response, they boycotted the proceedings of the House and held a demonstration near the Mahatma Gandhi statue on the Assembly premises.

According to sources, media personnel were handed envelopes at the entrance and instructed to deposit their mobile phones before entering the press gallery. This move sparked strong opposition from journalists, who argued that mobile phones are crucial for real-time reporting.

The restriction comes a day after chaotic scenes unfolded in the Assembly, where a scuffle broke out between ruling and opposition members. Videos of the incident, recorded on mobile phones, later surfaced on social media.

Journalists have alleged that the ban is an attempt to suppress their ability to report freely. Meanwhile, a delegation of BJD leaders met the protesting journalists and extended their support.

BJD MLA Arun Sahoo criticized the move, stating, “The government must clarify what it is trying to conceal. Journalists should have the right to report without any restrictions.”