Karnataka: Speaker on media panel - I'm not for confrontation says KB Koliwad

Bengaluru: Speaker K.B. Koliwad on Friday said the House forming a panel to suggest steps for "self-regulation" by newspapers and TV channels does not imply any conflict between the legislature and the media.

To frame self-regulation norms for the media, the joint House committee would debate the issue thoroughly within itself as well as with media persons, said Mr Koliwad who announced the formation of the panel on Monday.

The panel was formed after the MLAs of all parties, in an assembly debate on March 22, accused the media of often filing derogatory reports against the legislators and tarnishing their image. "Definitely no confrontation," the Speaker said.

Asked if there would be any rethinking on going ahead with the committee following media's criticism of the move, he said it is the House which has constituted the panel. "It has been done by the House, not by me. The House is more powerful than me. I am only a product of the House.

"The committee will come out with conclusions on self-regulation (for the media)," he said. He said the committee is likely to hold its first sitting after the April 9 bypolls to Gundlupet and Nanjangud Assembly constituencies.

Opposition leader in the Assembly Jagadish Shettar too said there is no confrontation with the media. "Why do you consider it is a confrontation?" he said adding there is a need to take corrective steps in all areas, be it politics or media. Maintaining that there is no move by the BJP to boycott the committee, he said no instruction has been issued to its two members on the panel to stay away. "We will see what the committee comes out with," he said. The BJP's concern is that there should be no infringement of freedom of speech and expression of the media.