Bill related to press and publication should be media-friendly

RUPANDEHI, March 12: Stakeholders have suggested that the bill related to press and publication going to be brought by the government of State-5 should be made media-friendly.

At an interaction program organized by Society of Parliamentary Affairs Journalists with collaboration of UNDP’s Parliament Support Program in Butwal on Tuesday, they suggested that the government should be liberal towards media as the government becomes strong only if media are strong.

On the occasion, President of State Affairs and Law Committee, Dama Sharma, said that the Committee would pass the bill as per the suggestion of media persons.

Sharma said, “The State Assembly and government have been moving ahead in facing the complexities. We will bring the bill as per the suggestions.”

Similarly, Member of Law Drafting and Recommendation Commission, Bishnu Pokharel, stressed the need of support of all as formulation of laws is a complex task while Under-Secretary at the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Law, Hari Singh Dhami, said that some weaknesses on bill could be corrected through discussion.

Former president of FNJ, Bal Krishna Chapagain, urged correction in the preamble of the bill saying it was wrong. “It is wrong to make preparations to bring the bill without discussing with the media,” he argued.

Presenting a concept paper on the bill, journalist DR Ghimire said the laws governing the media and journalism to be formulated by the State should be flexible.

FNJ former president Binod Pahadi said the bill was not media-friendly. Stifling the media would not be acceptable, he decried.

FNJ Rupandehi president Yanendra GC suggested the state government not to strangulate the media through the bill. He urged the bodies concerned to implement the suggestions given by the FNJ on the broadcasting bill.

FNJ Rupandehi advisor Madhav Nepal, president of Society of Parliamentary Journalists Bishnu Ghimire and journalists Nawaraj Kunwar, Damodar Khanal, Dipendra Baduwal, Rekha Bhusal, Bhawani Prasad Pandey, Amrita Anmol, CP Khanal, among others stressed on the need of allowing the media to function in an environment of freedom. RSS