Karnataka speaker's decision to restrict media from covering proceedings fatal for democracy: LoP
Bengaluru, Oct 12: Leader of the Opposition in the assembly Siddaramaiah on Saturday expressed reservations about Speaker Vishweshwara Hegde Kageri's decision to restrict print and electronic media camerapersons from covering proceedings and said media restriction was 'fatal' for democracy.
The former Chief Minister observed that the presence of electronic media cameras inside the House was the key to ensure "transparency" and asked the Chief Minister to discuss the issue with the Speaker and find a solution.
"You (Speaker) have stopped electronic media cameras. Electronic media is the medium to reach common man easily...
It is the medium for the people to know and see what is happening inside the assembly," Siddaramaiah said.
Speaking in the legislative assembly, he said the Speaker has the prerogative on how to run the House, but the media too is an important part of democracy like the legislature.
"In my opinion, any act of infringing on medias rights and independence is a blow to democracy...
For ensuring transparency I feel that cameras should be there. CM should speak to Speaker on this matter and find a solution," he said, adding that any move to "restrict" functioning of the media was 'fatal' for democracy.
Intervening, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister J C Madhuswamy said the public can still view proceedings as Doordarshan provides live feed to private TV channels and it was not a "ban" as was being alleged.
The Speaker cannot be blamed for the move, the Minister said.
"For about 10 years this was being contemplated upon one or the other way," he said
Madhuswamy pointed out that it was also the outcome of the Speakers' conference and that several states too have this model in line with Parliament.
Siddaramaiah said during his government's tenure too there was a proposal to have its own channels for the council and assembly in line with Lok Sabha TV, "but we did not go ahead with it."
Journalists and camerapersons on Friday had staged a demonstration here, condemning the Speaker's decision to 'bar' the media from telecasting House proceedings.
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UP: Fake IAS officer marries woman, flees with Rs 15 lakh dowry
Gorakhpur (UP) (PTI): A newly married man fled with the Rs 15 lakh given to him as dowry by the bride's family, and it came to light later that he was an alleged serial scammer, police said on Sunday.
The accused, identified as Pritam Kumar Nishad from Etawah, allegedly posed as an IAS officer to deceive the woman into marrying him. He is currently absconding with his sister, and a case has been filed against him for cheating, dowry harassment, and forgery, officials said.
According to the police, the woman's family claimed that they spent nearly Rs 30 lakh for the wedding that was solemnised on March 11.
The match was arranged through a matrimonial group, where the accused introduced himself as an IAS officer, sharing purported interview clips, office visuals, and photographs with politicians to gain the family's trust.
Despite initially claiming he would marry without dowry, the accused allegedly demanded Rs 15 lakh shortly before the engagement. The bride's family paid Rs 10 lakh in cash during the engagement and the remaining Rs 5 lakh on the wedding day, the police said.
The fraud came to light on Saturday after the woman reached Etawah, and a wedding attendee informed the family that the accused was not a civil servant. When her relatives visited the address provided by him, they found her in a small rented room, while the accused and his sister had fled, the police added.
The woman has also alleged that the accused planned to take her to Goa and sell her, and accused him of inappropriate behaviour.
The police suspect that the accused may have been involved in multiple such marriages in the past. Based on a complaint lodged at the cantonment police station, an FIR was registered on Saturday evening.
Senior Superintendent of Police Dr Kaustubh said efforts are underway to arrest the accused.
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