Chitwan lawmakers pledge to ensure press freedom in statute

CHITWAN:  At a time when the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) is demanding an amendment in the preliminary draft of constitution regarding provisions related to press, lawmakers of the district pledged to ensure full press freedom in the new constitution.

Lawmakers are currently in Chitwan to collect public feedback on the draft.

Speaking at a function organised by FNJ Chitwan district chapter, a member of the Constitutional Drafting Committee as well as the lawmaker from Chitwan Constituency-3, Krishna Bhakta Pokharel informed he and his party CPN-UML are positive regarding demands made by concerned press organisations. Just dropping the word “full” from “press freedom” does not curtail the press freedom, he claimed.

He promised to work actively to amend provisions regarding press, while emphasising the role of press during various times in the country.

Rastriya Prajatantra Party General Secretary and lawmaker Bikram Pandey and UCPN-Maoist lawmaker Santu Darai also spoke in favour of press freedom.

Altogether 13 lawmakers are in the district to collect public feedback on July 21 and 22.

At the programme, FNJ Chitwan President Hari Prasad Pokharel handed over feedback to lawmaker Krishna Bhakta Pokharel.