MUMBAI, June 2: Chief minister Manohar Joshi today ordered the immediate transfer of two officers of the Directorate General of Information and Public Relations after several mediapersons were left virtually stranded at Raj Bhavan on Saturday during the PM's visit.

``I have transferred Deputy Director Pralhad Jadhav and A G Kulkarni, another official of the DGIPR. Within next eight days, I will inquire into the causes of illtreatment given to the members of the fourth estate,'' Joshi promised.

By and large, on the occasion of the visit of the Prime Minister, no entry passes are issued for accreditated journalists as the accreditation is given only after verification by the crime branch or the special branch.

Despite such a situation, more than 24 journalists had submitted their names to the DGIPR for securing entry passes for Raj Bhavan as well as for the Airport, where Gujral was scheduled to address a press conference.

On the day of Gujral's visit it was found that most of the journalists who had submitted their names were not alloted entry passes. Subsequently, a delegation led by Mantralaya Reporters' Association President Praful Sagle called on Director General of Information and Public Relations Ashok Deshpande to brief him about the state of affairs in the department.

Deshpande, a new official in the DGIPR, deputed A G Kukarni to Raj Bhavan to see that they are allowed to enter there. At the Raj Bhavan, the situation only worsened as the police officials on duty refused to entertain not only Kulkarni, but also to Sudhakar Torne, Director of Information and Public Relations.

Police officials on duty said that the accreditation card issued by the state government is useless as it is just another identity card. ``This card is useless, please see the meaning of the word dictionary,'' a police official shouted at Torne.

As the altercation between the members of the fourth estate and police officials was at its peak, film star-turned-politician Raj Babbar arrived on the scene. He called the officials of the special branch and virtually threatened to kick up a row if they did not allow the journalists. Only then were the journalists let in. But once inside the mediapersons were virtually put under arrest in one of the conference rooms of the Raj Bhavan. As some of the lensmen tried to approach the main conference hall, where Gujral was meeting the delegations, they were restrained. Not only that, subsequently, at least a dozen police officials led by Deputy Commissioner Dilip Srirao were deployed to ensure that journalists to do not reach the main hall.

The situation eased only when a P T Taneja, Information Officer to the Prime Minister arrived there and directed the police to allow the lensmen to visit the main conference hall.

When the entire incident was narrated to Joshi, he said, he was of the view that there was no need for a special pass for those journalists, who have been accreditated by the state government. ``If entry passes are given to accreditated journalists, then the very purpose of giving accreditation will be defeated,'' Joshi said.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.