The BJP and Congress in Odisha have asked the Biju Janata Dal government to withdraw restrictions on the entry of the media into Lok Seva Bhavan and the assembly press gallery, PTI reported on Thursday.

Entry had been barred at the start of the Covid pandemic in 2020, but restrictions continued even as the Covid situation improved.

According to PTI, Congress leader Narasingha Mishra raised the issue during Zero Hour in the assembly.

“Media is the fourth pillar of democracy,” he said. “Why journalists are being barred from entering the assembly press gallery and Lok Seva Bhawan?” Mishra called for the government’s “special attention” to the matter; Congress MLA Suresh Routray subsequently echoed the sentiment.

BJP leader Mohan Majhi also asked that journalists be allowed to enter the assembly, pointing out that Covid cases had declined in the state. PTI quoted him as saying: “While journalists are invited to political programmes, there is no point in barring media persons to the government programmes and administrative buildings. What the state government is trying to cover up by doing this?”

In December last year, media associations had launched a protest in Delhi demanding restoration of access to the parliament. Similar to Odisha, restrictions had been opposed at the start of the pandemic but curbs on journalists’ entry remained even after government offices and public spaces reopened. During the budget session earlier this month, the media was permitted “restricted access”.