Media muzzled at sessions, no-entry triggers outrage

BHOPAL: It's just not Hindi writers, who were given the short shrift at 10th World Hindi Conference. Now, even the media has been banned from attending discussion sessions during the conference.
Reacting to a query on muzzling media, spokesperson of ministry of external affairs, Vikas Swarup, first said he was not aware about the ban. Later, he clarified this was a common practice across the world to allow media only in inaugural and concluding sessions.
Twelve sessions were held on the first and the second day of the mega event in which participants from India and abroad expressed their views. Most sessions were presided over by senior government functionaries, but media persons were not allowed inside.
A ministry of external affairs spokesperson held a press briefing to give out details of sessions. Senior journalist, Om Thanvi, who was present at the event said, "This is a totally undemocratic move to ban media at the conference. Why is it being held in a secretive manner? If there's space constraint, space should have been created as the venue is makeshift."
No writer of national repute or even Padma awardees from Bhopal were invited to the event. The argument cited was that the event was not for literature, but ironically the venue was adorned with portraits of Hindi writers. This defies claims of the organisers. State government turned the event into a BJP function," said Thanvi.