Bhubaneswar, Mar 12: The restriction on journalists to carry mobile phones to the press gallery of the Odisha Assembly has been lifted on Wednesday following a protest by scribes covering the proceedings of the House.

The announcement was made by Youth Affairs Minister Suryabanshi Suraj after a meeting between Speaker Surama Padhy and the agitating journalists.

Earlier in the day, reporters of various media organisations boycotted the proceedings and staged a dharna near Mahatma Gandhi statue on Assembly premises after the security personnel deployed at the entry gates prevented the reporters from carrying their mobile phones.

The Minister said that there will be no restriction on journalists to carry their mobile phones to the press gallery, but they cannot take photographs or do video recording from the press gallery.

As per the decision taken in the meeting, mobile phones will remain on a silent mode in the press gallery. The Information and Public Relations Department will provide adequate photos of Question Hour to media organisations.

Speaker Padhy said that the assembly will organise an orientation programme for the journalists covering the proceedings of the House.

The action of not allowing journalists to carry mobile phones came a day after photographs and videos of the MLAs' scuffle inside the House were used by media houses and went viral on social media.

Yesterday, BJP legislator Jayanarayan Mishra and Congress MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati were reportedly involved in a physical altercation. This led to chaos among the legislators in the Assembly, with pushing and shouting.

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