Port Blair, Oct 17: Fearing exposure of various failures of the Department of Information, Publicity and Tourism, the local administration kept the local private media at a distance during the recent visit of Union Home Minister, Mr. Amit Shah. The Information & Publicity department had asked the local media persons to submit photos & bio-data details for issuing Identity Cards for coverage of the Home Minister visit. However for reasons unexplained, private local media were not given the clearance to cover the VVIP visit.

Apparently, the Information and Publicity Division was apprehensive that the local media can raise issues before the Home Minister that could cause discomfort for the administration. While press/media has been described as the fourth estate in a democracy, for the UT administration, it seems that local media here has nil relevance. ‘The official mouthpiece has always been the tool of the administration for publicity the tall development claims’, said a media person.      

The local media here has always been in the forefront as regards giving positive publicity whenever the Administration has come out with projects for the benefit of the people and the good for the islands. But to the dismay of the journalists, the local media persons were kept at bay during the visit of the Home Minister. Only the family administration consisting of top officers of the administration and members of the Administration’s mouthpiece were allowed to attend the functions during the visit. The administration preferred to keep the media out for all the important official functions. This is not the first time that the administration has kept the media aloof. Is this the way democracy functions, question the scribes.