Experts have suggested that instead of the controversial Media Council Bill, the Press Council Act should be amended and empowered. They also opined that the Media Bill would stifle the freedom of the press and that it should be stopped. Kalyani Khadka, chairman of the Development and Technology Committee of the Federal Parliament, said that the committee should be scrapped as it is an attempt to introduce a law that harms journalists.
During the interaction held by the Tarai Development and Communication Center with the stakeholders regarding the Media Council Bill, various journalists made various suggestions.
When the country is in the midst of elections, what is the need for the government to bring such a media council controversial bill, senior media persons asked. If the government forces it, the media world will have to protest strongly, they added. The media persons present in the program submitted a suggestion letter to the committee chairman Khadka along with a collection of objections made by various media about the Media Council Bill.
Khadka said that since this bill was controversial, the committee was determined to proceed without any haste. The Federation of Nepalese Journalists issued a statement a few days ago and warned the government to protest against the Media Council. Similarly, the Samajwadi Press Organization has also said that it will protest against this bill as it will disrupt the media industry itself.
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