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| Complete mismanagement at SKICC during PM Modi's function | | | Jehangir Rashid
Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Feb 3: Complete mismanagement was witnessed at Sher-I-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) during the function marking the laying of foundation stones as well as inauguration of various projects by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Media, considered to be fourth pillar of democracy was virtually treated with disdain by the authorities who had managed the seating arrangements for the media persons at the event. The mismanagement was so visible that the government officials mingled with the members of press fraternity at the function.
Given the fact that the function was a high profile the organizers should have kept adequate seating arrangements for the media persons. On the contrary of this few seats had been kept reserved for the journalist fraternity. The media enclosure as written was no more a media enclosure since non-media persons had already occupied the chairs.
In the past it was witnessed that a particular portion of SKICC main auditorium would be kept reserved for the media persons, but this time around no such arrangement was made. The organizers had dedicated a single row for the journalists and the same could accommodate only handful of media persons.
The haphazard seating arrangements made some of the journalists furious with some video journalists protesting against the same. These people said that it would have been better if one side of the auditorium was dedicated to them. However, this request was not acceded to by the organizers and as such the media persons were scattered during the function.
The journalists had to adjust themselves at at least four places since the chairs meant for them had already been occupied. The video journalists were seen setting up their cameras at four different places with the cameras of Doordarshan set up many rows before them. One of the Doordarshan cameras was in fact set up just few meters away from the podium.
At the main entrance of the venue some of the journalists entered into an argument with the security personnel after they were told that their bags would not be allowed. It was only after heated arguments that some of the scribes managed to get in along with the bags while as there were others who left their bags at the main entrance.
At the conclusion of the function mess was visible outside the venue as the vehicles meant for media persons were boarded by the security personnel as well. Some of the journalists raised objection over the same but the security personnel stuck there and did not alight from the vehicles.
The journalists were furious with the Department of Information saying that it was the duty of the concerned department to ensure that entry as well as exit of media persons is hassle free. Some of the scribes had to remain standing since majority of the seats were occupied by the security personnel. |
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