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Journalism of Courage
With the possible threat to BJP PM candidate Narendra Modis life from a reporter,a ban on free movement of journalists has been put at Swarnim Sankul-I,which houses the Chief Minister and cabinet ministers offices. Now,journalists entry will be possible only after guards on duty at the reception confirm clearance with the minister or official.
The movement of journalists will be kept under watch. A guard will accompany them from the reception to the concerned offices and back.
According to the ban,coming close on the heels of snooping allegations against the Modi government,a journalist can enter in the newly-constructed building in the heart of Sardar Patel Secretariat in Gandhinagar only after a clearance by the concerned ministers. Any movement of journalists without security guard within SS-I has been banned.
We have an intelligence input that the CM has threat from terrorists posing as journalists, said P P Vyas,Deputy Superintendent of Police,Security Branch,at the Secretariat. A journalist will now be allowed to go ahead from the reception only when the concerned minister or official will convey clearance over telephone to the reception.
There has been,however,no formal letter issued in this regard. The security personnel maintained that the new rule was not just for the CMO,which occupies a floor of the four-storey building,but for all floors,occupied by Cabinet ministers.
So far,there was no such ban on journalists. They could enter after an ID check and luggage scanning at the main entrance of SS-I.
On the floor Modi sits,journalists were often allowed to enter the various offices of the CMO staff. Modi,who holds the Home Ministry portfolio,has an NSG cover with total 45 commandos.
