Joint House panel to regulate media

Basaraj Rayaraddi opposes move

The formation of a 13-member Joint House Committee, headed by Health Minister K.R. Ramesh Kumar, was announced in the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday. The committee will “study the good and bad impact of print and electronic media and the ways to regulate them.”

Interestingly, Minister for Higher Education Basavaraj Rayaraddi has written to Speaker K.B. Koliwad questioning the constitutional propriety of forming the committee to regulate the media. He was of the view that the move amounts to infringement of freedom of press.

He also suggested holding dialogues with editors of media organisations to allow them to have self restraint and self regulation.

In the Legislative Council, Leader of the Opposition K.S. Eshwarappa said the Bharatiya Janata Party members in the Council will not be part of the committee because the issue should not turn into a conflict between the media and legislators.

“We are of the view that it can be resolved amicably through talks,” he said, even as the Congress leaders pointed out that the issue was raised by their own MLC Tara.

Panel members

The committee comprises Ashok M. Pattan, B.R. Yavagal, N.A. Haris, Shivaraj S. Tangadagi, and S.T. Somashekar of Congress; Bharamagouda Algouda Kage and Suresh Gowda of BJP, and Sa.Ra. Mahesh and S. Narayan Gowda of Janata Dal (Secular).