Pokhara, May 16

Nepal Press Union, Kaski Chapter today protested against the Media Council Bill tabled in the Parliament.

Kaski-based journalists organised a peace protest from Mahendrapool to BP Chowk this morning demanding the anti-press provisions in the bill be immediately rectified.

Addressing a corner meeting in BP Chowk, Nepal Press Union Central Vice-chairman Ramesh Poudel said  the government was preparing to bring the bill which would work against democracy.

He said all the journalists would have to unite against the government as it had tried to clamp down on the journalists’ freedom and terrorise media.

Adviser of Press Union, Kaski, Rabindra Bastola said that it was wrong of the government to attack the media by showing its two-thirds majority. “Such activities have to be rectified immediately,” he added.

Another adviser Balaram Upadhaya said that not only journalists, but the public too should protest against the Media Council Bill presented by the government in the Parliament.

Press Union, Kaski Chairman Nabin Sigdel said the bill brought against press freedom had to be rectified immediately.

Press Union Gandaki Province Coordinator Tanka Adhikari, central member Sarita Timilsina, journalist Himnidhi Laudari, among others, also stressed the need to reform the media council bill.