Kathmandu, October 1

The State Affairs and Good Governance Committee of the House of Representatives today barred journalists from attending its meeting.

Chairperson of the committee Shashi Shrestha asked journalists to leave the meeting after delivering her opening remark. She said, “It is all about discussing issues with related organisations. We will talk to mediapersons later. I would like mediapersons to leave the venue.” Immediately after her remarks marshals came to journalists telling them to leave the hall. The committee was discussing with the Ministry of Home Affairs and Nepal Police about their daily routine.

This was the second time that journalists were barred by committee Chair Shrestha from attending the panel’s meeting. Earlier, they were barred from attending a meeting when Federation of Nepali Journalists had demanded that lawmakers amend or revise the ‘anti-press provisions’ in the Civil Code Act and Criminal Code Act that came into force on August 17.

National Assembly member Radhe Shyam Adhikari, who is also a senior advocate, said the HoR Regulations allowed the panel to bar journalists from discussion on very sensitive issues of national interest and national security, but that exception should not become a rule. “I do not think that there is any issue of national interest and national security that could allow invoking of such exceptional rule,” he said and added that barring journalists from covering the panel’s discussion would deprive the citizens of their right to seek information on public interest issues.

‘Maintain peace, during festivities’

KATHMANDU:  State Affairs and Good Governance committee of the House of  Representatives today directed the Ministry of Home Affairs to maintain  peace and security during the approaching festival season of Dashain, Tihar and Chhat.  It has also requested the ministry to control all kinds of criminal  activities during this season. It has directed the authorities to take  stern action to control crimes related to women and create amiable  social environment. Similarly, it also directed the ministry to contain  the price hike of public transportation during the festival time and  ensure easy avaibility of bus tickets, control black-marketing in  tickets and ensure easy access to public transport.