NT NETWORK
PANAJI
Putting to rest the controversy over the stringent guidelines related to the accreditation of journalists covering the proceedings of the state legislative Assembly, the Speaker Pramod Sawant clarified that these are just draft guidelines and final guidelines would be issued only after incorporating suggestions which have been sought from the Press Accreditation Committee, the Goa Union of Journalists and other members from the media.
Addressing a press conference after a meeting with the Press Accreditation Committee of the state Assembly on Thursday, the Speaker stated that there is no question of withdrawing the draft guidelines; however they would be modified considering suggestions of the journalists’ fraternity. Admitting that it was a mistake of his office that it has not mentioned draft guidelines published on official website of the state legislative assembly and not circulated it to the members of PAC before publishing, Sawant maintained that it is important to have such guidelines in security point of view at the state Assembly.
“Lok Sabha and other state assemblies have such guidelines for accreditation of journalist covering the proceedings. Therefore, in order to streamline the process, Goa Assembly also came out with the draft guidelines,” he said, adding that it was decided in last meeting of the PAC to have such guidelines.
The Speaker further said that the state Secretariat will finalise these guidelines once the suggestions received from journalists are incorporated followed by the meeting of PAC.
Sawant also admitted that the implementation of current guidelines of the state assembly for accreditation of journalists was not done properly.
“Next session of the state legislative assembly would probably be held in June and till then we have time to finalise these guidelines,” he added.