Journalists covering the arrival of Haryana Congress MLAs at Wildflower Hall, the historic Oberoi Resort in Chharabra near Shimla, were reportedly stopped and pushed by police on Sunday, prompting strong criticism from the media community.
Several reporters had reached the resort to cover the legislators who are stationed in Himachal Pradesh ahead of the Rajya Sabha elections in Haryana. However, police deployed at the site allegedly prevented them from approaching the hotel premises.
During the incident, a senior journalist was reportedly pushed while attempting to perform his duties. Media personnel said that the police repeatedly told them that the restrictions were imposed under orders from the Director General of Police (DGP), and that journalists would not be allowed near the venue for the next three days. The MLAs had arrived at the resort after leaving Kasauli, where they had been staying earlier.
The obstruction has drawn sharp condemnation from journalists across Himachal Pradesh, who called it a violation of press freedom and an infringement on the fourth pillar of democracy. Media professionals expressed solidarity with the affected journalist and demanded that the state police clarify the rationale for restricting coverage.
A delegation of journalists is reportedly planning to meet Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu to raise the issue and seek assurances that the press will not be blocked from covering political events in the future.
Police sources stated that the restrictions were implemented as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of the visiting MLAs. The legislators are reportedly under tight security to prevent any attempts at political poaching ahead of the crucial Rajya Sabha elections in Haryana.
The Congress MLAs are expected to depart Shimla later in a heavily guarded convoy for Chandigarh to participate in voting at the Haryana Vidhan Sabha. The convoy is said to include three tempo travellers and around ten escort vehicles, including police and government cars. Exact departure timings have not been officially disclosed, and media personnel have not been informed about the movement.
The unusual security arrangements and restricted media access have fueled debate among journalists over transparency, press freedom, and the role of law enforcement during politically sensitive developments.
Nurturing Creativity – Keekli Charitable Trust, Shimla
