Congress has long thought that the best way to stop the media from being misused is through self-regulation........
Digital desk: The Congress unveiled its manifesto for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections at the party headquarters in New Delhi on Friday.
Leading party leaders attended the unveiling of the "Nyay Patra" manifesto, including senior leader P. Chidambaram, former Congress presidents Rahul and Sonia Gandhi, party general secretary KC Venugopal, and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.
In the manifesto's section on media and press freedom, Congress promised to reform the Press Council of India Act, 1978, enhance the system of self-regulation, defend journalistic freedoms, maintain editorial independence, and keep a watchful eye on government meddling.
According to the manifesto, Congress has long thought that the best way to stop the media from being misused is through self-regulation. According to the press council, the Act's change would provide it with greater power to deal with the threat raised by paid and fake news.
The party promised to uphold independent journalism by passing legislation shielding reporters from government pressure. This entails limiting the government's ability to monitor journalists, seize their devices, and expose their sources.
The manifesto also promises to enact legislation that will prohibit media monopolies, cross-ownership, and corporate organization control over the media.
“All media houses, irrespective of the size, will be required to disclose their ownership structures (direct and indirect), cross holdings, revenue streams, etc. through their websites,” the manifesto stated.
Congress said that several new laws, such as the Press and Registration of Periodicals Act of 2023, the Digital Personal Data Protection Act of 2023, and the Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill of 2023, offer the government unrestrained censorship powers.
The party stated in its manifesto that it would remove backdoor censorship by amending or repealing the restricted elements of the other two Acts and that it would withdraw the first Bill previously mentioned.
According to the manifesto, the Congress would also modify the Cinematograph Act of 1952 to guarantee that graded certificates are awarded by the Central Board of Film Certification based on transparent and reasonable criteria.
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