Government is committed to press freedom: Prime Minister Oli
KATHMANDU, March 31: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said the government is committed to the press freedom.
Addressing the 20th anniversary function of the Reporters’ Club Nepal in Kathmandu on Saturday, he denied the rumors that the left government will impose authoritarianism and infringe upon press freedom.
“That the leftist government imposes any form of autocracy in the country and will curtail press freedom is but a rumor. I urge everyone not to go by it. The government highly respects the press freedom and the freedom of expression,” the Prime Minister asserted.
‘ZERO TOLERANCE AGAINST CORRUTION’
The Prime Minister said that the government was resolute in controlling corruption, implementing development plans and adopting modern technology.
“I won’t do corruption, nor will I let any commit corruption. This government will adopt the policy of zero tolerance against corruption.
Prime Minister Oli further said that his state visit to India, which is scheduled for April 6-8, will further deepen the Indo-Nepal bilateral relations.
“I will be soon embarking on a visit to India and I hope the visit will further deepen and promote the relations between Nepal and India,” he said. The Prime Minister also expressed that both India and China would support Nepal.
On the occasion, Reporters Club Nepal honored Prime Minister Oli.
‘TIME FOR INSTITUTIONALIZING CHANGES’
Speaking on the occasion, CPN (Maoist Center) Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ expressed his committed to take the country toward the path of economic development and prosperity while implementing constitution.
“We are committed to fulfill the mandate of economic prosperity given by the people. The country has already headed into that path. Now, time has come to institutionalize the changes,” he said.
The former Prime Minister underscored the need of all Nepalis to move ahead on the journey of peace, good governance and prosperity. Noting that the people were with the new government, he pledged to fulfill the people’s aspirations now.
Chairman of the National Assembly, Ganesh Prasad Timilsina said that now the country should be steered ahead towards the path of economic prosperity.
Indian ambassador to Nepal, Manjeev Singh Puri said that India was always for Nepal’s development and prosperity.
JOURNALISTS AWARDED
On the occasion, Reporters Club Nepal has conferred the ‘The Girija Prasad Koirala Memorial Journalism Award’ to Subash Dhakal, the Chief Editor of ‘Saptahik’ which is a sister publication of the Kantipur Publications. The award carries a purse of 100 thousand rupees.
PM Oli and former PM and Maoist Centre chairman Prachanda presented the awards to the recipients of various awards instituted by the Reporters Club, including to Dhakal.
Similarly, this year’s the ‘The Madan Bhandari Memorial Journalism Award’ has been presented to Shambhu Shrestha, the founder editor and publisher of the ‘Drishti’ vernacular weekly. This award also carries a purse of 100 thousand rupees.
Likewise, the ‘The Birendra Saha Memorial Journalism Award’ carrying apurse of Rs 25,000 has been conferred on Dilli Acahrya, the executive editor of the Rajdhani vernacular daily, the ‘The Kula Prasad-Chet Kumari Dhamala Memorial Journalism Award’ with the prize amount of Rs 25,000 has been conferred on Dilip Thapa Magar, vice-president of Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) and Nepal Television reporter. This award also carries a purse of Rs 25,000.
Special correspondent of The Himalayan Times, Rewati Sapkota has been conferred with the ‘The Krishnasen Ichhuk Memorial Journalism Award’ carrying a purse of Rs 20,000.
Senior correspondent of the Annapurna Post daily, Narendra Saud has been conferred with the ‘Outstanding Youth Journalism Award’ with the prize money of Rs 20,000.
The other award recipients include: photo journalist with the Nagarik daily, Bijaya Rai (The Babu Chhiri Photojournalism Award of Rs 20,000), Deepa Dahal, the reporter and coordinator of the Deshsanchar.com (The Uma Singh Memorial Journalism Award of Rs 15,000) and reporter of the Gorakhapatra daily, Bhauch Prasad Yadav (The Best Youth Journalism Award with the prize amount of Rs 10,000).
Likewise, Sshil Darnal, reporter with the Rsatriya Samachar Samiti, the national news agency, has been conferred with the ‘Best Youth Journalism Award of the Year’, which carries a purse of Rs 5,000.