By TC News Desk
Agartala, 9th October 2024: Agartala Press Club has strongly condemned the Tripura Police’s decision to impose restrictions on issuing Durga Puja passes to journalists for the upcoming Durga Puja festival.
In a press statement issued from Agartala Press Club said that despite the Chief Minister’s goodwill and clear directives, the Home Department has reportedly introduced several hurdles, depriving many journalists of the passes required for covering the festivities.
In its statement, the Agartala Press Club highlighted that previous years saw a smooth process for issuing these passes. However, this year, the Home Department has insisted on journalists first clearing any pending fines before receiving their passes, a move that many journalists feel is unjust. The press club argues that these fines should be settled later, allowing journalists to perform their duties during the Pujas without delay.
A significant point of contention is the Home Department’s decision to issue passes only to journalists recognized by the government. This has left 78 journalists without passes, sparking protests from the media fraternity. Furthermore, those with fines exceeding Rs 3,000 are being asked to provide an undertaking to pay the fines within three months, a move that the Agartala Press Club has labeled “humiliating.”
In a meeting held on Wednesday, which excluded journalists’ representatives, the Home Department reiterated its stance, further aggravating tensions. The Agartala Press Club has now demanded the immediate issuance of unconditional passes to all journalists, warning that failure to do so would deprive the public of watching Puja coverage on television.
As the situation escalates, the Agartala Press Club continues to appeal to the Chief Minister for intervention, urging the state to uphold the dignity and freedom of the press.
