Odisha Journalists Protest New Entry Rules to Lok Seva Bhavan, Threaten Statewide Agitation
Bhubaneswar, July 19, 2026 – In a sharp escalation of tensions between the media and the Odisha government, accredited journalists have strongly opposed the new entry restrictions at Lok Seva Bhavan, calling the move “unfortunate and anti-press.”
They have warned that if the controversial requirement — mandating a new government-issued identity card instead of the long-used accredited press card — is not withdrawn immediately, a statewide agitation will begin.
The decision was taken at an emergency meeting held at the Odisha Press Club on Saturday.
Journalists unanimously passed a strong condemnation resolution against what they termed the government’s “anti-media stance.” They resolved to return their accreditation cards to the government and boycott all official programmes until the order is revoked.
Senior journalists present at the meeting expressed deep anguish over the repeated neglect of media persons even two years after the current government assumed power.
Despite long-pending demands for welfare measures, the administration has instead introduced fresh restrictions, they alleged.
“Access to Lok Seva Bhavan using accredited press cards has been a standard practice for decades, followed across India.
Replacing it with a new card is both unnecessary and insulting to the fourth estate,” said participants.
The meeting also decided to send a formal protest letter to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi. Journalists warned that if the government fails to act swiftly, intense protests will spread across the state.
Prominent journalists who attended the meeting include Sanjay Pradhan, Prasanna Mohanty, Abinash Mishra, Bibekananda Jena, Priyaranjan Sahu, Partha Sarathi Jena, Sarbeshwar Bardhan, Maheshwar Rath, Sandeep Mishra, Madhabananda Beura, Bibhuti Bhushan Kar, Deb Kant Mahapatra, Balaram Prasad Nanda, Dilip Bishoi, Ramesh Mohanty, Sanatan Dalbehera, and others.
The development has sent ripples through Odisha’s media fraternity, raising serious questions about press freedom and government-media relations in the state.
