Anurag Thakur on Press Freedom and Media Protection in Rajya Sabha

Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur said in the Rajya Sabha that the Central Government is committed to protecting the freedom of the press and the interests of the media. While dismissing the apprehensions of the media and opposition parties regarding the Registration of Press and Magazines Bill-2023 and calling it free from the slavery mentality of the British and Congress rule, Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur claimed that the earlier bill would put pressure on the media. Was going to make it, but now this bill is going to give opportunity. Now, there will be no need to visit offices for registration of newspapers and magazines and publishers will not have to go to jail for small mistakes. This bill was also passed by the Lok Sabha on Thursday.

Will get freedom from slavery mentality- Anurag Thakur

Fear of press and magazines: During the discussion on the Registration Bill, Anurag Thakur said that this bill is going to provide Digital India, Ease of Doing Business, and Ease of Living. It has been brought in place of the British-era Press and Book Registration Bill-1867. Its passing will provide freedom from the slavery mentality and laws made at that time and the fear of being put in jail for small mistakes will also go away. The Union Minister said that the law of that time used to suppress the media, and now it will be increased. This will happen through Digital India.

Action will be taken against publishing newspapers and magazines without permission

Earlier it had eight stages, which took several months. Now it will happen in one go. The certificate will be received after all the formalities in two to three months. At that time the book was also included under it, now the book has been removed from it. He said that in the bill brought by the UPA government in 2011, there was a provision for jail even for minor crimes. Modi government removed those five provisions from it. Only one thing has been kept if a newspaper or magazine is published without permission, a notice will be given and six months will be given, after which action will be taken.

There is an effort to increase government control over the press – Syed Imtiaz Jalil

Meanwhile, AIMIM MP Syed Imtiaz Jaleel said, the Editors Guild of India agreed that this bill will affect the freedom of expression. Along with this, Syed Imtiaz Jalil said that giving the power of inspection and investigation in the press to other agencies is an attempt to increase government control over the press. At the same time, Anurag Thakur said in the Rajya Sabha that the Central Government is committed to protecting the freedom of the press and the interests of the media.

By: Asna Zaidi

Tags : anurag-thakur | Press Freedom | Media Protection

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