9 June 2019
The Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) formed a human chain in the Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu, on Saturday to protest the Media Council Bill tabled at Parliament.
Journalists from various media houses joined the protest that took place at Babarmahal, bearing placards in their hands reading: Guarantee press freedom; scrap media council bill; respect press freedom and pay heed to preamble of the constitution.
Addressing the protest assembly, FNJ chairperson Gobinda Acharya demanded the bill be scrapped, for it was brought breaching the constitution. He also asked for the fulfilment of a 16-point demand put forward by the FNJ relating to an amendment to the bill or they would intensify the protest the government.
Other protestors–former FNJ chairpersons Dharmendra Jha and Dr Suresh Acharya, Editor In Chief of Kantipur daily Narayan Wagle, Editor In Chief of Nagarik daily Gunaraj Luitel and Editor In Chief of deshsanchar.com Yubaraj Ghimire demanded the amendment to the bill.
