Bengaluru : There is a need to uphold the freedom of the press but at the same time its needs to function with certain restrictions when required, said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

He was speaking at Breaking Barriers, the 9th Global Communication Association Conference, here on Thursday. “I respect the freedom of the press and there should not be any attempt at its strangulation.”

However, in the same vein he condemned news reports that were not based on facts and said that the media should also be penalised for misleading reports.

Following this line, Siddaramaiah batted for the Press Council of India to bring other forms of media under its jurisdiction. “The Press Council of India that usually controls print media should also include radio and television,” the chief minister said.

Surya Prakash, Chairman, Prasar Bharati, who also spoke on the occasion, highlighted the growing evolution of social media, consumption patterns of news via smartphones etc. He said that the evolution of the media in the country should progress on its own terms and not by aping the West.