Those associations/organizations have stated that the new system of registering online media from the state in accordance with the information and broadcasting department and the state law is contrary to the essence of federalism.
Various five associations/organizations have requested that the media council bill should be moved forward only by making necessary amendments after sufficient discussion and understanding with the concerned parties.
Press Center Nepal, Press Organization, Nepal Janpatrakar Organization, Nepal, Revolutionary Press Organization and Press Nepal issued a joint press statement on Sunday and demanded that some provisions of the Media Council Bill, which is under discussion in the subject committee of the House of Representatives, should be amended.
'Important provisions of the Media Council Bill under discussion in the House of Representatives should be amended, it has curtailed full freedom of the press, the universal recognition of freedom of the press, full freedom of the press guaranteed by the constitution, the National Mass Media Policy 2073, the suggestions of the Mass Media Sector Reform Committee and the agreement with the stakeholders should be amended and an independent, autonomous and competent media council should be established', the statement said.
Those associations/organizations have stated that the new arrangement that online media coming from the province should be registered with the Information and Broadcasting Department and the provincial law is contrary to the essence of federalism. It has been demanded that the unified mass media law (Umbrella Act), which has been drafted, should be quickly pushed forward to organize the registration, renewal and regulation of all types of media including online.
