Rahul Gandhi’s consultation on caste census hit by ‘technical glitches’

Interestingly, just when experts, academicians and other participants were to speak, there were ‘technical glitches’ in the telecast, leaving many, including news channels, irked.

Hyderabad: Congress MP Rahul Gandhi’s State-level consultation on caste census with experts, academicians and others organized at Bowenpally here on Tuesday was hit by ‘technical glitches’.

The Congress in Telangana had made elaborate arrangements for smooth conduct of the programme. Initially, the live proceedings of the programme were telecast and Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and cabinet Ministers extending a grand welcome to the Congress MP at the venue were also telecast. Interestingly, just when experts, academicians and other participants were to speak, there were ‘technical glitches’ in the telecast, leaving many, including news channels, irked. This was mainly due to the lack of permission for news channels to cover the programme.

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The live telecast resumed only after Rahul Gandhi commenced his speech. The Congress, which claims about promoting media freedom and freedom of speech, had earlier denied passes for media persons to cover the programme for reasons better known to the organizers.

Earlier, the Congress cadre had established banners, flexis and huge cutouts on the roads leading to the venue and extended a grand welcome to Rahul Gandhi. However, on September 27, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) had issued a circular imposing a strict ban on unauthorized pasting of posters and wall writings. In the circular, the then GHMC Commissioner Amrapali Kata even wanted all the Deputy Commissioners to submit an action taken report on levying penalties as per the rates on unauthorized banners, posters, cutouts, flexis etc. Whether the Congress had permission or whether the civic body will overlook this remains to be seen.