Gautam said Rai alleged Republica´s sister publication Nagarik had engaged in yellow journalism and that false news were published by the daily. “The newspapers published news which I asked not to publish,” Gautam quoted Rai as saying. “It saw black as white. I boycott this newspaper and its journalists.”
When Gautam inquired him about a corruption case in which Rai was allegedly involved, Rai started vomiting vulgar words. “Why did you come here? Who allowed you to come here and disturb me?”
Rai then asked Gautam to immediately leave his place or else he would strangle him out from there. He also threatened severe consequences if Gautam and other journalists associated with Nagarik and Republica reached there.
Earlier, Rai had called Nagarik scribe Arjun Subedi over telephone and asked him not to publish a news related to him after learning that the news was being published in Nagarik a week ago.
According to Subedi, Rai had tried to influence him to drop the news item by offering him petrol from his office. Subedi outright declined the offer and published the story. Rai claimed that other journalists had been receiving petrol from his office.
Related story
NIC ASIA appoints Roshan Kumar Neupane as acting CEO
