Pokhara, June 4

Kaski chapter of Federation of Nepali Journalists today expressed concern about the Media Council Bill tabled in the Parliament by the federal government at an interaction.

They also protested the Media Council Bill at the event. Speakers at the programme said journalists had not been able to enjoy complete press freedom though the country had adopted democratic federal republicanism.

Senior journalist Badri Binod Pratik said journalists in the country were not able to write freely. “Every successive government tries to gag the media and press freedom.

The government has to revise anti-media provisions incorporated in the bill. If the government fails to do so, all the journalists will unite and hit the streets for complete press freedom,” Pratik added.

Nepal Bar Association Central Vice-chair Surendra Thapa Magar stressed the need to raise voice against the Media Council Bill. “To restrict media is to seize people’s right to information,” he stated.

Press Union’s Central Vice-chair Ramesh Poudel accused the government of trying to censor media to pave the way for authoritarianism.