Government committed to press freedom: Gandaki Province CM Pokharel

Gandaki: Chief Minister of Gandaki Province Krishna Chandra Nepali Pokharel today said that the provincial government is committed to press freedom.

Stating that the constitution has guaranteed full press freedom, he said that the government cannot restrict press freedom under any pretexts and no acts or laws would be made against it. The CM was addressing an event organised in Pokhara by the Federation of Nepali Journalists, Kaski to exchange greetings on the occasion of festivals including Tihar and Chhath.

He said he expects factual and authentic news relating to work and activities of the government.
Similarly, stressing the need for a national unity at this point of time, Finance Minister Ramji Baral Jiban said festivals of the country would help unite people.

Minister for Education, Culture, Science and Technology, Mekh Lal Shrestha, said the government is active in the rescue of and providing relief to the flood and landslide-affected people as well as managing COVID-19 vaccines to the citizens of the province.

FNJ Kaski president Bimala Bhandari complained that although journalism is considered as the fourth estate of the nation, journalists still have been facing threat and intimidation for writing news. She stressed on creating safe environment for journalists to carry on their profession and that the journalists should also write news based on facts and truth.

Province Assembly member and CPN (UML) Kaski president Krishna Thapa, Nepali Congress Kaski president Krishna KC, FNJ vice-president Ram Prasad Timilsina, secretary Madhav Baral, among the speakers, extended best wishes on the occasion of the festivals of the Nepalis.