Opinion | Keep North Block open
1 min read . Updated: 11 Jul 2019, 05:05 PM ISTIf 'Sabka Vishwas' is part of the governance mantra of Modi 2.0, then the press deserves some trust
The decision of the Union finance ministry to disallow even government-accredited journalists from entering its premises in New Delhi without a prior appointment is not just arbitrary, it appears designed to stem the flow of information, which is vital to democracy. It’s true that “leaks" from dubious sources are a problem, but still, shutting the doors to scribes smacks of an overreaction. It suggests a distrust of public officials as well as journalists.
Of course, it has been routine for the ministry to shut out journalists for 30 days of the so-called quarantine period in the lead-up to the annual budget, for which secrecy is crucial. But scribes were allowed access to the ministry a day after the budget speech. This time, the pre-budget curbs stay in place. How this should make for better governance is far from clear. While “streamlining and facilitating" the entry of mediapersons (as the official reason offered has it) may seem like a practical objective, especially if overcrowding is causing exasperation, it could effectively bar those who are merely trying to do their professional job of covering an important ministry.
In the interests of transparency and openness, the ministry would be well advised to reconsider its decision and rescind the order. Journalists are often seen as “pesky", but their role as intermediaries between the government and the governed requires them to access as much information as possible. If “Sabka Vishwas" is part of the governance mantra of Modi 2.0, then the press deserves some trust.
