Himachal journalist pushed by Police during coverage of Haryana Congress MLAs near Wildflower Hall
Shimla, March 16,
A senior Himachal Pradesh journalist was allegedly pushed during coverage of Haryana Congress MLAs near Wildflower Hall in Charabra near Shimla city.
The journos was prevented from carrying out news coverage at the historic Wildflower Hall, An Oberoi Resort on Sunday afternoon, triggering sharp reactions from the media fraternity across the state.
The incident occurred when Haryana Congress MLAs were returning after attending a lunch gathering hosted by Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.
According to journalists present at the spot, several media persons had reached near the resort in Charabra near Shimla to report on the legislators, who have been stationed in Himachal Pradesh ahead of the Rajya Sabha elections in Haryana. However, police personnel deployed at the location allegedly stopped journalists from doing media coverages.
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In a video reportedly viral on social media it can be clearly seen, that while the said journalist was trying to do coverage, a couple of policemen came running towards him and pushed to stop his coverage. They even tried to stop the camera, however the same was not allowed by the journalist in question.
Journalists at the site said the police prevented them from covering the spot and repeatedly stated that the restriction had been imposed under orders from the Director General of Police (DGP). Media persons were also allegedly told that access to the location would not be allowed for three days.
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The alleged obstruction triggered strong reactions among journalists present at the location, who described the action as an infringement on press freedom and the functioning of the fourth pillar of democracy. Several media professionals expressed solidarity with the journalist involved and demanded clarity from authorities regarding the circumstances under which media access was restricted.
Following the incident, a delegation of journalists met Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu to raise the issue. The Chief Minister assured the delegation that the matter had come to his attention and said such incidents would not happen in the future.
He said a report would be sought from the Shimla Superintendent of Police by 3 pm and clarified that the state government had not issued any instructions restricting media access.
The Chief Minister also said the claims that the restriction had been imposed under orders of the Director General of Police would be examined.
Police sources, however, maintained that the restrictions were imposed as a precautionary measure to ensure the security of the visiting legislators, who are being kept under close watch amid concerns over possible political poaching ahead of the Rajya Sabha election in Haryana.
Meanwhile, the Congress MLAs are expected to leave the resort later for Chandigarh under tight security to participate in the voting scheduled in the Haryana Vidhan Sabha. Sources said the legislators are likely to travel in a convoy comprising three tempo travellers accompanied by around ten escort vehicles, including police and government vehicles.
The incident and the restrictions on media movement have intensified discussions within the media community regarding press access, transparency and the role of law enforcement during politically sensitive developments.
About the Author
The HimachalScape Bureau comprises seasoned journalists from Himachal Pradesh with over 25 years of experience in leading media conglomerates such as The Times of India and United News of India. Known for their in-depth regional insights, the team brings credible, research-driven, and balanced reportage on Himachal’s socio-political and developmental landscape.
