No entry for Tehelka reporter

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, APRIL. 22. A senior correspondent of tehelka.com was today barred from entering the Prime Minister's residence at 7, Race Course Road, suggesting that an unofficial ban on Tehelka was being enforced. The website's exposure on defence deals has stirred a political storm.

The Tehelka reporter was stopped by Special Protection Group personnel who were clearing correspondents and television crews to cover the Home Secretary's briefing this afternoon. He was told that since he belonged to Tehelka, a formal clearance was required from senior security officers - but it never came.

When some correspondents drew the attention of a Press Information Bureau official present at the briefing, he nonchalantly declared that since the correspondent did not carry a valid security-cleared pass issued by the PIB, he may have been stopped.

Little did the official care to explain how some correspondents from television networks were allowed to enter the same place without the so-called ``security cleared PIB card'' only on the strength of the identity card issued by their office. The Tehelka correspondent also had a similar identity card.

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