BJP turns media-shy at key conclave
By Deepshikha Ghosh, Indo-Asian News Service Panaji (Goa), Apr 12 (IANS) Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) began a crucial three-day introspective here Friday with hordes of media persons unhappy at not having open access to the leaders. Policemen and BJP volunteers formed a virtually impenetrable barrier between BJP leaders and swarms of media teams at the Marriott hotel, overlooking the sea, that is the venue for the meeting of the BJP's national executive. Unlike earlier conclaves where leaders freely mixed with journalists, the party this time seems to have decided to hold its deliberations behind closed doors and keep the prying media at arm's length. Such are the curbs placed on the media that a reporter of a television channel was stopped from interviewing former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Rajnath Singh. A predictable scuffle broke out between BJP workers and other reporters restricted to the hotel lobby, as top BJP leaders looked on from its spacious terrace that provides a picturesque view of the beaches around. None of the journalists' coaxing, shouting or reasoning worked as policemen and the BJP volunteers firmly asked reporters to clear out. Party leaders passing by refused to be drawn into the tussle, saying the decision to keep the media at a distance had been taken at "higher levels". =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet =================================================================== For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
