GANDAKI, Nov 1: Chief Minister of Gandaki Province Krishna Chandra Nepali Pokharel today said that the provincial government is committed to ensuring press freedom.
Stating that the constitution has guaranteed full press freedom, Chief Minister Pokharel said that the government cannot restrict press freedom under any pretexts and no acts or laws would be formulated to undermine press freedom. He was addressing an event organized in Pokhara by the Federation of Nepali Journalists, Kaski to exchange greetings on the occasion of festivals including Tihar and Chhath.
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Chief Minister Pokharel said that he expects factual and authentic news relating to the work and activities of the government. Also speaking on the occasion, 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 the fourth estate of the nation, journalists still are facing threats and intimidation for writing news. She also stressed the need to create a safe environment for journalists to carry out their professional activities 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, and Secretary Madhav Baral, among other speakers, extended best wishes on the occasion of Tihar and Chhath festivals.
(With inputs from RSS)