After being separated from ‘news’, reporters walked out of a function organised by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) alleging "humiliation".
The enclosure, which was never there in the past, robbed the journos of their chance to informally interact with the guests.
After being separated from ‘news’, reporters walked out of a function organised by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) alleging "humiliation".
At a programme organised by the terror probe agency to commemorate its 9th foundation day, reporters said the venue had an enclosure for the journalists separating them from the other VIPs present at the venue unlike in the past.
The enclosure, which was never there in the past, robbed them of their chance to informally interact with the guests, including Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Army General Bipin Rawat and other Union ministers, and ferret out information, said reporters Outlook spoke to.
A reporter with The Hindu, Vijaita Singh tweeted saying "We don't come here to have chai-pakauda @NIA_India stop humiliating the press."
"No interaction-- formal or informal-- with any of the ministers happened. We don't go to events for refreshments, we go for stories," Singh told Outlook saying that such incidents have never happened before.
"All the journalists present there had PIB accredition. We have been covering such functions for several years," she said. "It was humiliating, we decided to boycott the event."
The Outlook tried to contact the NIA for response, the copy will be updated when it respnds to our queries.
Ananya Bhardwaj, a journalist with The Print, too took to twitter, saying Media boycotts covering NIA day after being asked to move to an enclosure separate from where the officers, Vice President and Home Minister were present. Not here to have chai and Rasgulla @NIA_India @HMOIndia"
Other journalists, who were not present at the venue extended support to the 'media boycott'.