Activists hail alternative media after govt withdraws ‘Broadcasting Services Bill’
Image credit X.com
Govt withdraws ‘Broadcasting Services Bill’ amid protests
By Our Special Correspondent
New Delhi, August 12: Activists hailed the campaign of the civil society against the draft Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill after the government announced its withdrawal. A spirited campaign was launched by the civil society against the draft legislation, calling proposals draconian with potential to kill journalism.
Activists had claimed on the social media platforms that “bar-coded” draft bill was circulated among the select few stakeholders. They had also claimed that the scope of the draft bill was sweeping which could have covered even the users of the social media platforms and designated them as content creators.
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“The ministry of information and broadcasting on Monday has withdrawn the latest draft of the Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill, 2024 by asking all stakeholders to return physical copies given to them. Victory for the people and the alternate media,” said Supreme Court lawyer Prashant Bhushan in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
Another advocate practising in the Delhi High Court, Apar, credited the government decision to withdraw the bill to the campaigns by the civil society. “As news reports come in on the withdrawal of the Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill, 2024, I would like to thank everyone who reported, worked and educated others on its dangerous provisions. This is a broad coalition of diverse individuals, groups and organisations who have stood up and asked the government for transparency and contested political censorship,” Apar posted on X.
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But he warned that it may be merely a “retreat and an official ministerial statement or admission in parliament is necessary for confirmation”. “However, small victories do matter and it’s important to pause and cheer for public accountability,” added Apar in a long post on X.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in a media statement on Monday said that “a fresh draft will be published after detailed consultations”. “The draft Bill was placed in public domain on November 10, 2023 along with the explanatory notes for comments of the stakeholders and the general public. In response, multiple recommendations/ comments/ suggestions were received including from various associations. Ministry is holding a series of consultations with the stakeholders on the draft bill,” added the ministry in the media statement.
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It stated that “additional time is being provided to solicit comments/ suggestions till 15th October, 2024”.
Tagging a media report, Rohit Kumar with a background of public advocacy in a long post on X said: “…it can be a dangerous attack on freedom of speech. By covering all entities disseminating news under its ambit and placing additional obligations on social media intermediaries, we risk state censorship of individuals who highlight gaps in government policy or demand greater accountability.”
Kumar claimed that “watermarked, hard copies of the Bill have been selectively circulated with a handful of stakeholders”. He wondered at the secrecy, saying that “this is going to not just affect a handful of companies and media outlets, it will affect all of internet, and the citizens on it”.
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