New Delhi, May 1 2012: Congress in its brief has distanced itself
from a private member's bill tabled by party MP Meenakshi
Natarajan saying it contained her personal views and not
those of Rahul Gandhi with whom she is considered close.
"The bill was based on her (Natarajan's) views. These
are not not the views of Rahul Gandhi. Neither are these his
views or nor has she got his consent to this bill," PTI reports Congress
General Secretary Janardhan Dwivedi told reporters here.
Dwivedi's clarification comes on media reports that
Natarajan was to introduce in Lok Sabha last week The Print
and Electronic Media Standards and Regulation Bill, 2012 which
could not not take place because she was absent when called.
The bill provides among others things for a regulatory
authority with sweeping powers including a ban or suspending
coverage of an event or incident that may pose a threat to
national security from foreign or internal sources. It even
provides for a fine of up to Rs. 50 lakh, suspension of a
media organisation's licence for up to 11 months and
cancellation in some cases.
Natarajan, a first-time MP representing Mandsaur in
Madhya Pradesh, is an AICC Secretary and is a member of Rahul
Gandhi's core team of youth leaders for building the party.
Congress MP Bill out to gag media.
Mint report said,Ambika Soni and Manish Tewari said that the Bill may not reflect the party’s or the government’s views and that “three Congress leaders, including a cabinet minister, said the proposed law embarrassed the party.” Mint further states likelihood of the bill passing in perspective.
“According to PRS Legislative Research, a non-profit organization focused on pending legislation, no private members’ Bill has been passed by Parliament since 1970. Of the about 300 private members’ Bills introduced in the 14th Lok Sabha, barely 4% were discussed; 96% lapsed without even a single debate in the House,” it said.
Print and Electronic Media Standards and Regulation salient features are:-
Regulatory authority to be notified by the central government; exempt from RTI; can ban coverage of an even:
* Selection committee to have three members selected by the central government
* Among “standards”: “prohibition of reporting of any news item based in unverified and dubious material”; “prohibition of publication or broadcast of any material that is defamatory; clear “segregation of opinions from facts”; prohibition of reporting a news item which is obscene, vulgar or “offensive”
* Power to “search and seize” any document “kept secretly at some secluded place”. Authority can suspend operations of the media organisation for a period of up to 11 months
* No civil court will have jurisdiction of any matter which the Authority is empowered to determine
Congress MP Bill out to gag media.
Mint report said,Ambika Soni and Manish Tewari said that the Bill may not reflect the party’s or the government’s views and that “three Congress leaders, including a cabinet minister, said the proposed law embarrassed the party.” Mint further states likelihood of the bill passing in perspective.
“According to PRS Legislative Research, a non-profit organization focused on pending legislation, no private members’ Bill has been passed by Parliament since 1970. Of the about 300 private members’ Bills introduced in the 14th Lok Sabha, barely 4% were discussed; 96% lapsed without even a single debate in the House,” it said.
Print and Electronic Media Standards and Regulation salient features are:-
Regulatory authority to be notified by the central government; exempt from RTI; can ban coverage of an even:
* Selection committee to have three members selected by the central government
* Among “standards”: “prohibition of reporting of any news item based in unverified and dubious material”; “prohibition of publication or broadcast of any material that is defamatory; clear “segregation of opinions from facts”; prohibition of reporting a news item which is obscene, vulgar or “offensive”
* Power to “search and seize” any document “kept secretly at some secluded place”. Authority can suspend operations of the media organisation for a period of up to 11 months
* No civil court will have jurisdiction of any matter which the Authority is empowered to determine
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