Hundreds of Nepali journalists on Friday held a massive rally here demanding immediate withdrawal of the proposed Media Council Bill that aims to curtail press freedom by imposing strict penalty on media outlets.
Nepal has proposed the new media bill aimed at imposing a hefty fine of up to Rs 1 million on media outlets found guilty of damaging anyone's reputation, raising alarm among journalists who say the government seeks to punish the press in the name of regulation.
The new Media Council Bill aims to replace the existing Press Council Act and will have more authority to issue hefty fines and give the government more say in the hiring and firing of the council members.
The journalists, who protested under the banner of Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ), held the rally carrying placards and also encircled streets in front of the Kathmandu District Administration Office.
Similar protests were also held in other parts of the country that was organised by the FNJ. "The journalists across the country are participating in the third round of protests organised by the FNJ to oppose the Communist government's move to limit press freedom and to suppress freedom of speech," Ramesh Bista, general secretary of FNJ, said.