Kathmandu, Sept 28: Nepal Communist Party (NCP) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has said the present government is not in favour of controlling the social media or the mass communications media.
Initiating the dainikonline.com run by the ‘A and A’ Kathmandu Media Pvt Ltd here today, the ruling NCP chairman urged one and all not to worry about the matter as the constitution itself has guaranteed full press freedom.
“The government will not make any laws restricting the Press. We are in favour of full press freedom. Laws restricting the Press do not last and we are not for controlling the Press,” he asserted.
Giving assurances that the Media Council Bill that is presented in the federal parliament would be revised, the former Prime Minister expressed the determination to make the bill in line with the spirit of the constitution.
He however added that freedom does not mean anarchy and the journalism fraternity itself should be self-regulated through discussions.
“At present, some social media and online have become such that they cannot be read or watched or listened to due to the presentation of such content. This tendency should be defeated with the norms of civilization,” NCP Chair Dahal said and called on the media world to work for strengthening the national unity and cultural bonds, and consolidating them and not dividing it.
He expressed his concern that some media have crossed the minimum standard while expressing their views. NCP Chair Dahal underscored that the media persons themselves should discourage the wrong tendencies.
“Those in the leadership are harassed when their names are linked with false matters. Journalists, please mind, what is the condition of the leaders,” he said, referring to the negative comments and posts related to the leaders that appear in the social media.
“The media should defend the social, cultural and political anomalies by getting into the truth and being based on the truth” he reiterated. NCP general secretary Bishnu Poudel expressed that his party would not make any laws restricting the press freedom.
Minister for Education, Science and Technology Giri Raj Mani Pokharel said journalism based on truth and facts was the need of the day. He urged the media fraternity to consider their professional ethics and morality while practicing their profession.
Vice president of Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) Dilip Thapa expressed the belief that Dainikonline will create a new dimension in Nepal’s journalism.
Dainikonline’s editor Udaya GM said they would disseminate news based on facts and evidence and move ahead the online journalism being based on the existing norms and values of journalism.
