Kathmandu, May 13

Sajha Bibeksheel Party and Bibeksheel Nepali Party have separately issued a press statement criticising the Media Council Bill, recently registered at the Parliament.

Sajha Bibeksheel said that the government, in a bid control media to cover up its failure, has registered Media Council Bill.

The party demanded that the government should immediately withdraw the bill from Parliament. It has claimed that if such a bill is endorsed it will have higher chance of putting media under government control.

The press release also said that the controversial bill was drafted to divert government performance as it has been receiving too much criticism. It also said, “The government which failed to control corruption does not govern well and tries to control the media all the time.”

Similarly, Bibeksheel Nepali Party said the bill has provisions for curtailing the media. This is unacceptable in democracy.

The press statement reads, “The bill has paved a path for the government to control media activities. This won’t allow the media to play its role of an effective watchdog in society.”