When reporters reached the conference venue plainclothes men refused to let them enter the hall saying, “No media is allowed inside.” No reasons were given as to why the media was not allowed to cover the proceedings. However, the official media – affiliated to government – were allowed in the hall.
A reporter who managed to gain access into the hall, along with the help of a photographer, was shepherded out by the plainclothes police guarding the entrance. Reporters were told (rather angrily) not to enter the hall.
When staff of the Goa Legislative Assembly, who was at the venue, was questioned, as to why media was not allowed into the hall, they were told that the only media allowed in the hall were staff of the Lok Sabha TV and Doordarshan.
“The entire event is in-camera, which is why no media is allowed,” was the reason one Goa Assembly staffer gave.
