Journalists seek withdrawal of order restricting media inside Vidhana Soudha

Mangalore Today News Network

Bengaluru, Feb 21, 2026: Journalists on Friday submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah urging the withdrawal of recent restrictions imposed on reporters’ movement inside the Vidhana Soudha.

In the memorandum, journalists stated that the new order issued by the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms had disrupted established reporting practices and made it difficult for them to interact with ministers and legislators.

A delegation of reporters also met the Chief Minister after staging a symbolic protest in front of the statue of Mahatma Gandhi. The memorandum noted that journalists traditionally accessed corridors and designated rooms to obtain immediate reactions from ministers and legislators during Assembly sessions. Restricting them to the West (Kengal) Gate portico, it said, would hamper real-time reporting and limit interaction with elected representatives.

Siddaramaiah said the order had been issued on his instructions and described it as a “reasonable restriction” rather than a complete ban. He cited security and administrative concerns, adding that media access would continue under the revised norms. However, he said the memorandum would be examined, making it clear that the restrictions would not be withdrawn for now.

The BJP also called for the immediate revocation of the order. Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly R. Ashoka said the curbs undermined transparency and would make it difficult for opposition leaders to interact with the media inside the Vidhana Soudha.

Karnataka BJP president B. Y. Vijayendra termed the move an attempt to curb press freedom under the guise of security.

BJP legislator V. Sunil Kumar said the restrictions sent a wrong message about democratic functioning and expressed support for the journalists’ protes