With their access to Parliament House already limited, electronic media representatives found themselves confined to a glass enclosure on Monday. They were told to clear the space in front of the main door, or ‘Makar Dwar’, where they typically catch MPs for soundbites.

Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi joined other leaders in questioning the “caging” of the media, criticizing the restrictions on their movement outside the enclosure. Several Opposition leaders, including Gandhi, visited the enclosure to support the journalists.

During the Union Budget debate, Gandhi appealed to Speaker Om Birla to allow the media to move freely, describing their current situation as being “restricted to a cage.” Birla responded that such issues should be discussed privately and not on the House floor, emphasizing that Gandhi should understand the parliamentary procedures.

Birla later met with Opposition leaders and members of the media, promising to address their concerns. A source explained that the journalists were asked to remain inside the enclosure to collect soundbites because MPs had complained about crowding at the steps and entry area.

The only area on the premises that has been cordoned off, aside from spaces near the Prime Minister’s Office and the offices of the Speaker and Rajya Sabha Chairman, is the main gate where MPs enter and leave.

Trinamool Congress leader Derek O’Brien, who, along with Congress MP Karti Chidambaram and Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi, met the journalists in the enclosure, called the measure a form of “censorship.” He declared, “This is completely unacceptable. We are with you in this fight.”

RJD Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Jha shared a photo of himself next to the media enclosure, stating it reflected “the sick state of democracy.” AAP Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha wrote to House Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, urging that journalists be allowed free movement and provided with adequate facilities.

In Kolkata, TMC chairperson Mamata Banerjee described the measure as an “act of autocracy,” calling for the Opposition to unite against this “dictatorial act.”

At the Business Advisory Council (BAC) meeting, Congress Deputy Leader in the Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi demanded the removal of pandemic-era restrictions on mediapersons in the House, questioning why they were now confined to an enclosure. Birla assured the floor leaders that he would form an all-party committee to address the issue and provide suggestions.

Birla also met with a delegation of journalists, promising to address their grievances and improve facilities to help them perform their duties effectively. The old Parliament building had a media enclosure, mainly for TV cameramen, but it was open. The new glass enclosure was intended to provide an air-conditioned facility with amenities like drinking water, coffee, and tea.

Earlier this month, the Editors’ Guild of India had urged Birla and Dhankhar to lift the pandemic-era restrictions on the number of journalists allowed in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, stating it “impeded their ability” to cover parliamentary proceedings. Although around a thousand journalists are accredited to cover the two Houses, only a fraction are granted access.