Cabinet okay with law for protecting journalists: Chavan

Talking to reporters after the weekly cabinet meeting,Chavan said nobody wants to stop the media from carrying out its legitimate job,but the fourth estate too should be responsible and accountable.

“… there are serious concerns about some of you in the political fraternity,just like you have apprehensions about some bureaucrats and politicians. We need to have an arrangement where complaints against journalists can be heard,” the chief minister said.

When pointed out the code of conduct for journalists figures in the draft bill,Chavan said he had seen the draft,and it had no ‘enabling provisions’.

Chavan said a cabinet sub-committee of five to six senior ministers (the names would be announced shortly) would “go through the draft bill and suggest amendments”.

“We plan to introduce the final draft in the monsoon session itself,” he added.

To a question on the progress of investigation in the Dey murder case,Chavan said substantial progress had been made. “Some people would be arrested (soon) and a breakthrough is expected,” he said.

Police have detained three suspects in connection with the murder.

“We want to enact this law. We are serious about it. (But) There are certain constraints,” Chavan said.

There was a broad consensus in today’s cabinet about enacting the law,the chief minister said,adding “I agree that there has been a delay in enacting it.”

Asked if he could assure that at least Congress ministers would not oppose the bill when introduced in the House,Chavan said,”We are talking about the draft bill. Let us not talk about what happens afterwards.”