Press Club Itahari (PCI), a non-registered organization of some local journalists, is found to have taken Rs 50,000 twice from Itahari Municipality, ostensibly for setting up its office and conducting training programs.[break]
However, neither has the PCI set up its office nor has it conducted any training so far.
It has been learnt that PCI has taken money from other government offices as well, including Eastern Regional Traffic Police Office and Land Revenue Office. PCI has collected donations by sending letters undersigned by PCI president Som Nath Banstola´s signature to various government offices.
Two years ago, Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) had asked all government offices in Sunsari to not give donations, meant for the welfare of scribes, to any press organizations without consulting it.
However, PCI managed to dupe government officials as its chairman Banstola is, ironically, the secretary of FNJ Sunsari chapter. “All institutions run by journalists received money only after we approved it,” FNJ Sunsari president Rajesh Bidrohi said. “But, PCI got money without our approval.”
Meanwhile, journalist Arun Baral has lodged a formal complaint against Banstola at FNJ Sunsari.
However, Banstola denied any wrong-doing. “It is a conspiracy to defame me,” he said.
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