Jammu: The media persons covering the Assembly proceedings on Tuesday staged a walkout against the diktat of deputy speaker Nazir Ahmad Gurezi who directed them not to report what Er Rasheed said in his speech on Budget 2018-19.

It enraged the media persons and they staged a walkout from the House.

Earlier, during the question hour, Gurezi had asked the media persons not to cover any incident unless they don’t get his approval for its report.

The deputy speaker passed the directive after the independent MLA jumped inside the well of the House and protested against the unparliamentarily language used by NC, MLA Muhammad Akbar Lone.

Rashid created noisy scenes and was marshaled out and deputy speaker who was conducting the proceedings asked media persons in press gallery not to report Er Rashid’s speech and his protest in the house. Following this media persons staged a walkout from the House.

Later, minister for parliamentary affairs Abdul Rehman Veeri appealed the journalists to come inside the assembly and report the proceedings but journalists demanded an apology from the deputy speaker for issuing ‘diktat’ on media.

“We won’t enter unless deputy speaker comes out and apologize,” the Journalists said.

Speaker of the Legislative Assembly also appealed the reporters to come inside and resume reporting of the proceedings of the House. But the media fraternity refused to budge.

Guest