Journalists face 'pass' blockade at Maha Kumbh

Several journalists, including those from abroad who descended here to cover the Maha Kumbh, had a bitter experience due to "mismanagement" by mela administration in issuing media passes.
    
Even though many of the journalists, especially foreign mediapersons, had applied for passes more than a week ago, the mela officials could not provide them the mandatory document as the rules were changed at the last minute.
    
The police decided to issue separate passes to local journalists and those coming from outside the state, reversing its earlier decision.
    
This led to a "complete chaos and mismanagement" on Wednesday and Thursday, journalists said. Many mediapersons had to spend almost sleepless nights in the cold waiting for their passes at the Media Centre set up here.
    
"It was a big problem. I lost photos, lost stories. I could not reach the key spots where people and sadhus took their bath. I have come from Italy especially for this mega event," said Erberto Zani, a freelancer who has tied up with Italy-based Eidon Agency for the coverage of the Kumbh.
    
"I submitted all the required documents. My (news) agency also mailed them. But nothing has yet happened. I have only spent time and money coming here. They are not even giving me correct information about the status of my media pass," he claimed.
    
While officer on special duty (OSD) to Uttarakhand chief minister Ramesh Pokhriyal, Bal Krishna Sharma, who is also in-charge of the media arrangements, was at hand trying to arrange for the passes, police was playing truant, the journalists alleged.
     
Apologising profusely to the media for delay in giving passes, with many waiting till the early hours today, a senior state official said, "About 300 passes, which were prepared in the first half of yesterday, were cancelled by police as they decided to provide two different kinds of passes to mediapersons at the 11th hour citing security reasons."
    
As per the original plan, all mediapersons were to be given a common pass but deputy inspector general of police (Kumbh) Alok Sharma decided that those coming from outside the state should be provided a 'red pass' to allow entry only to 'Har Ki Pauri' ghat and 'white passes' should be issued to local journalists giving them unrestricted entry to all areas.
    
"We have come from Australia to cover this event. I have been here for the last 36 hours waiting to get my pass and you have lost my registration form. This is a case of poor management," a journalist, who left without taking his pass was heard arguing with a mela official in the wee hours.