Journalists Not Allowed To Attend Coming Session Of Odisha Assembly

Bhubaneswar: The journalists will continue to be barred from entering the state Assembly during its session starting from March 25.

The decision was taken at the all-party meeting chaired by Assembly Speaker Surya Narayan Patro, here on Tuesday. During the meeting, Congress legislature party leader Narasingha Mishra raised the demand for allowing the journalists into the House to cover Assembly session.

Speaking to media persons after the meeting, Mishra said, “The government did not accept the proposal citing the suggestions made by the health department due to the prevalent COVID situation in the state.”

The meeting also took a decision that the COVID protocols will be strictly followed during this time as earlier sessions since the pandemic broke out. All the ministers, MLAs and Assembly employees will undergo COVID test before the start of the session.

Government chief whip Pramila Mallik said, “The meeting discussed how the proceedings of the House would be conducted smoothly. All the parties agreed to the proposals that their elected representatives would follow the COVID protocols.”

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Bikram Arukh and Opposition chief whip Mohan Majhi were also present at the meeting. Finance Minister Niranjan Pujari attended through video-conferencing.