Photography, videography banned on Telangana Assembly premises

Warning boards have been installed at the Assembly lobby to enforce the new rule

Hyderabad: In yet another attempt to silence the voices of the Opposition, the Telangana Assembly has imposed a ban on taking photos and videos within its premises. Warning boards have been installed at the Assembly lobby to enforce the new rule.

The move of the Assembly Secretariat has drawn sharp criticism from opposition parties, especially the principal opposition party BRS. Opposition leaders say the government is adopting undemocratic and authoritarian policies, contrary to its claims of being a democratic administration.

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The BRS said the Congress party’s slogan of “Praja Palana” and its promises of freedom in governance were merely on paper, as in practice, it was implementing an undemocratic system. It alleged that the ban on photos and videos in the Legislative Assembly premises was an attempt to silence the Opposition’s voices inside and outside the Assembly.

Previously, there were no such restrictions, but the new regulations have now been implemented, sparking outrage among Opposition leaders. Earlier, live TV streaming was prohibited during Assembly sessions. However, there were no restrictions on photos and videos.

Reports and pictures of the ban notice have gone viral on various social media platforms and netizens are criticising the government’s move.