Kathmandu February 17.

The Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) has drawn the attention of the Sudur Paschim State government, calling it to correct the Bill Designed to Make Provisions for Radio, Television and FM Broadcasting. The state government has recently introduced the bill in the State Assembly. A team comprising FNJ central general secretary Ramesh Bista among others met with Sudur Paschim State Assembly speaker Arjun Bahadur Thapa, minister for internal affairs and law Prakash Bahadur Shah and State Assembly Legislation Committee president Nepalu Chaudhary on Sunday and submitted a memorandum to that connection. Journalists have been opposing the bill citing that it has provisions imposing restrictions on press freedom and the freedom of expression. They have called for removing the provision in the bill which states that the Minister shall be the chairperson of the Media Board, demanding that an independent person should be appointed the chair of the Board and also removing the provision on penalty and punishment. The bill is currently under discussion at the Legislation Committee of the State Assembly.