KATHMANDU, May 22: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has taken responsibility for the arrest of Kantipur Media Group (KMC) Chairman Kailash Sirohiya.

After receiving the joint letter of the editors working in various mainstream media outlets on Wednesday evening, Prime Minister Dahal admitted that he had given permission to the police to arrest Sirohiya as the arrest warrant was issued against him by the Dhanusha District Court.

"When the Prime Minister spoke to us, he believed that it was not the time to arrest Kailashji," said Prateek Pradhan, editor-in-chief of Bahrakhari.com, who reached Prime Minister Dahal’s official residence in Baluwatar to deliver the joint letter of the editors. The prime minister said that he had given permission to arrest Sirohiya as the court had already issued an arrest warrant against him. 

While stating that he did not know about the case until the arrest warrant was issued against Sirohiya, Prime Minister Dahal also requested the media fraternity not to take the arrest of Sirohiya as the government’s move to curb press freedom. “If he is innocent, he will be released in two or three days,” Pradhan quoted Prime Minister Dahal as saying. “You should not create a narrative that the government has started acting against press freedom.”

Prime Minister Dahal also said that he is serious about the demands raised by the editors.

"He [the prime minister] has given a serious response to the demands raised by us, especially about the Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane," said Pradhan, "He has said that he will work so that results can be seen in a few days."

After the arrest of KMG Chairman Sirohiya on Tuesday, a group of 31 editors working in the mainstream media held a meeting on Wednesday and concluded that there was abuse of power by Home Minister Lamichhane. The meeting also decided to submit a five-point demand letter to Prime Minister Dahal.

In the joint letter to Prime Minister Dahal, 31 editors expressed concern over the circumstances and allegations surrounding Sirohiya’s arrest, questioning the motives behind it.

“We believe the arrest from within a media house is a deliberate attempt to intimidate the press. Government agencies have not previously interrogated Sirohiya regarding these allegations,” the editors wrote.

They also highlighted the actions of Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane, who has reportedly exhibited hostility towards the media following reports about the misappropriation of around one billion rupees involving him and Gorkha Media Network, where he was a partner.

“We urge the prime minister to ensure an impartial police investigation against Lamichhane and to facilitate an environment conducive to prosecuting the case fairly,” the letter stated.

The editors reaffirmed their commitment to press freedom, the rule of law, and their responsibilities, emphasizing that they will not compromise in defending these principles.

 
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