Bhubaneswar, June 13: The new BJP government of Odisha allowed media persons entry to the Lok Seva Bhawan to collect information from various departments, the Chief Secretary's Office, and the Chief Minister's Office from today. 

Journalists have been denied entry to the State Secretariat, known as Lok Seva Bhawan, for the last four years since March 2020 in the name of the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Journalists were unhappy because of entry restrictions to the Lok Seva Bhawan even though the COVID-19 pandemic has been greatly contained. 

"It was an autocratic attitude of the BJD government not to allow media persons to the Lok Seva Bhawan. Scribes need to go to the Secretariat to collect information about government decisions," said reporters. 

Taking to 'X', senior journalist Ruben Banerjee wrote, "Allowing journalists to Lok Seva Bhawan is a welcome step. Democracy doesn't bear fruits without press freedom."  

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