View: Press freedom suffers in Parliament in the name of Covid

The Covid pandemic has affected our lives in numerous ways in the past few months. Among other things, it has altered the way Parliament proceedings and the political theatrics that take place in the temple of democracy are covered by the press. There has been an erosion of press freedom in subtle and not so subtle ways in Parliament during the last few sessions in the name of observing Covid appropriate behaviour. This trend continues in the on-going monsoon session. When the first wave of the pandemic struck, it was widely accepted that strict preventive measures need to be taken to check its spread through public interactions. Parliament had also enforced these conditions like entry to only those who have undergone an RT-PCR test, social distancing, curbing the number of people entering the premises, not allowing visitors, reducing the number of passes for journalists, and so on. These were welcome steps and most of them are still in place or altered in accordance with the changing scenario (like no tests required if you have been vaccinated at least once). However, while some of these restrictions have been relaxed for the MPs and the staff in Parliament, they continue to be in place for the press. It is not clear if this has been done out of concern for the journalists or out of some mistaken belief/fear that they are super-spreaders of the Coronavirus. These may arguably be side-effects of the much-needed Covid protocols but have nevertheless shackled the press in various ways.

It started with the curtailing of passes issued to journalists to enter Parliament. While all MPs and Parliament staff are allowed to enter the premises, journalists have to get a daily pass issued after approval from the officials. Rajya Sabha secretariat has given permission only to the official media- Doordarshan, LSTV, RSTV- and the news agencies to attend daily. A lottery system under which 21 other electronic and print media reporters (including from the regional and vernacular press) whose name figures in the draw of lots for each day are permitted to enter in the Rajya Sabha. Effectively, this means each channel/newspaper will get access to Parliament on only four of the 19 working days in this monsoon session. While the Rajya Sabha has adopted this method, Lok Sabha secretariat has not bothered with even such niceties. It has not renewed the annual passes of reporters and put in place an ad hoc and opaque system under which daily passes are issued after approval from an official. While it is right and acceptable that there should be no crowding in the press gallery, the strict system in place has resulted in virtually empty benches. As a result, only a sanitized (censored?) version of the proceedings as shown by Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha TV is reported. The camera focuses only on the Chair or the minister/member speaking while the rest of the action is edited out. For several years now, Parliament proceedings have made news more for disruptions and drama than any high-quality debates. Though erring members should not be given undue publicity, highly sanitised reports take this to the other extreme of muffling the press. Regular press coverage during the good old days entailed journalists watching the proceedings of the Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha and writing an eye-witness account. Members snatching papers, tearing Bills, getting into a scuffle, sitting in the Well of the House, walking across to the other side (a la Rahul Gandhi), marshals physically evicting an expelled member, MPs making stray remarks or taking jibes can be described only by those present in the press gallery. The placards, the slogan shouting, the slanging match between lawmakers, the verbal brawls are reported now on hearsay. This session has had its share of such developments. In the Rajya Sabha, TMC member Shantanu Sen snatched papers from the hands of IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and tore them, followed by a heated exchange of words between Urban Development Minister Hardeep Puri and TMC members soon after the House was adjourned. TMC member Shanta Chettri fainted while shouting slogans in the Well. MPs, including those from the Treasury Benches against whom her slogans were directed, rushed to help her. Some protesters have whistled in the House, one member put his hand on the shoulder of one of the marshals. In the Lok Sabha, a few Congress members are on the verge of being expelled for a few days for tearing official papers and throwing them in the air. Unfortunately, these unsavoury scenes are becoming commonplace inside the Parliament and the blame does not lie squarely with the Opposition. These need to be reported impartially as first-person accounts by journalists. Incidentally, all the restrictions and Covid protocols in Parliament seem to be reserved for the press. In both Houses, several MPs sit next to each other- some without a mask- as if immune to the Covid threat. The Opposition MPs troop into the Well of the House and shout slogans without any social distancing. When the House is adjourned- which is several times in a day- several MPs crowd at the exit doors as they wait for their vehicles. The Parliament secretariat has shown added enthusiasm in curtailing press freedom in the corridors. Journalists are discouraged in various ways from speaking to MPs. There is only one exit door for journalists and new “NO EXIT” sign boards have come up at the remaining gates. Reporters are expected to brave the rain or sun- no vehicles of reporters allowed since the new Parliament building construction work began- while walking out of the complex. Access to the Central Hall of Parliament, where MPs from both Houses spend their free time, has been closed to journalists. Even during normal times, only a few senior journalists from each organization were allowed to enter its hallowed precincts. With only 21 journalists allowed by each House every day, the number of Central Hall pass holders present in the Parliament complex would be minuscule. Social distancing cannot then be cited as a reason for keeping them at bay. There are reports that the new Parliament under construction will not have a Central Hall, thus doing away forever one avenue available to senior journalists to interact with MPs and ministers. The provision of issuing Parliament passes to retired journalists under the Long and Distinguished Service (LDS) has been discreetly discontinued.But while trying to enforce Covid protocols in Parliament and curbing fair reporting of what transpires in the corridors of power, freedom of the press is getting suppressed. This does not augur well for the health of the world’s largest democracy.(Disclaimer: Views are personal)