<p> A Congress MP in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday made a demand for enacting a legislation for protection of journalists, claiming India has become one of the most dangerous countries in the world to be a journalist.</p>.<p>M V Rajeev Gowda (Cong) raised the issue through a Zero Hour mention in the Upper House.</p>.<p>"There is an urgent need to enact a national legislation for protection of journalists. In the past several years India has become on of the most dangerous countries in the world to be a journalist," he said.</p>.<p>Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu pointed out that he should not make sweeping remarks and cautioned him.</p>.<p>"Let us not make such a sweeping remark. You (Gowda) are a well read person...some report, some international...Member saying it from Parliament that will be quoted outside also. I am only cautioning...," he said.</p>.<p>Gowda said last year, India ranked 13th in the global impunity index by the community to protect journalists which features countries with the worst record of punishing killers of journalists.</p>.<p>The organisation Reporters without Borders has listed India at 140 out of 180 countries on its World Press Freedom Index, he said.</p>.<p>The Congress MP said a sub-committee of the Press Council of India prepared a detailed report on attacks faced by working journalists in 2015.</p>.<p>"It found 80 journalists have been killed in India since 1990 and most of the cases are still pending in courts," he said.</p>.<p>The report, Gowda said, demanded that a separate law be enacted for safety of journalists across India along with other recommendations.</p>.<p>This report was submitted to the then I&B Minister Arun Jaitley.</p>.<p>He said this report could be the basis for drafting the law.</p>.<p>"We have also heard of tragic cases of murder of journalists. Along with that threats, intimidation and violence against journalists are also a major problem. How long we will let this happen," he asked.</p>.<p>In the absence of legal protection and mechanism to create safe mechanism for journalists and media persons, the public domain and discourse suffers the most, he noted.</p>.<p>"Therefore, I urge the government to enact a legislation for protection of journalists and media, and ensure freedom of press stays alive," he said. </p>
<p> A Congress MP in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday made a demand for enacting a legislation for protection of journalists, claiming India has become one of the most dangerous countries in the world to be a journalist.</p>.<p>M V Rajeev Gowda (Cong) raised the issue through a Zero Hour mention in the Upper House.</p>.<p>"There is an urgent need to enact a national legislation for protection of journalists. In the past several years India has become on of the most dangerous countries in the world to be a journalist," he said.</p>.<p>Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu pointed out that he should not make sweeping remarks and cautioned him.</p>.<p>"Let us not make such a sweeping remark. You (Gowda) are a well read person...some report, some international...Member saying it from Parliament that will be quoted outside also. I am only cautioning...," he said.</p>.<p>Gowda said last year, India ranked 13th in the global impunity index by the community to protect journalists which features countries with the worst record of punishing killers of journalists.</p>.<p>The organisation Reporters without Borders has listed India at 140 out of 180 countries on its World Press Freedom Index, he said.</p>.<p>The Congress MP said a sub-committee of the Press Council of India prepared a detailed report on attacks faced by working journalists in 2015.</p>.<p>"It found 80 journalists have been killed in India since 1990 and most of the cases are still pending in courts," he said.</p>.<p>The report, Gowda said, demanded that a separate law be enacted for safety of journalists across India along with other recommendations.</p>.<p>This report was submitted to the then I&B Minister Arun Jaitley.</p>.<p>He said this report could be the basis for drafting the law.</p>.<p>"We have also heard of tragic cases of murder of journalists. Along with that threats, intimidation and violence against journalists are also a major problem. How long we will let this happen," he asked.</p>.<p>In the absence of legal protection and mechanism to create safe mechanism for journalists and media persons, the public domain and discourse suffers the most, he noted.</p>.<p>"Therefore, I urge the government to enact a legislation for protection of journalists and media, and ensure freedom of press stays alive," he said. </p>