Kathmandu, March 23

Nepali Congress General Secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa has said people cannot get rid of fear unless the prime minister is afraid.

Speaking at a programme organised to mark the 17th General Assembly of Community Radio Broadcasters Association and National Conference of Community Radios today, General Secretary Thapa said the time had come for the prime minister to be afraid.

He said the government should understand the im-portance of time to provide a glimmer of hope in the young generation. He said the prime minister should move forward for development of citizens and the country.

'A situation has been created where people have to be afraid too. I am really scared. I have told the prime minister several times not to frighten citizens. But it is time to be frightened of the prime minister sitting alone.'

General Secretary Thapa also suggested that the prime minister stop calling futile meetings.

He said, 'Take at least half-an-hour a day. Stop calling meetings and think about ways to live every moment.

The time has come for the prime minister to be afraid. If the prime minister is afraid, the citizens will be free of fear.'

Thapa said the prime minister did not have permission to sit idly by just because he got enough votes.

He said he had never seen such kind of despondency among the people, adding, 'The government has no excuse not to work.'

He said he had seen disappointment among people like never before. 'Even if the prime minister loses votes to the right or to the left, if he goes on reiterating, 'I have 172 votes,' he must be certain that only heads will be left and there may not be any people left to listen to us.'

He further said, 'I had never seen so many young girls in panic. I had never seen the hopes of so many people falling into despair.'

Thapa promised to support in every way possible the upgradation of community radio.

He clarified that the role of community radio was important to stop the flow of misleading news and protect the community from wrong information.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal said community radios had played an important role in transforming society.

Addressing the National Conference of Association of Community Radio Broadcasters Nepal, PM Dahal said, 'Community radios play a vital role in ensuring information flow to the general public, establish the federal democratic republic system and rule of law, and ensure human rights.'

A version of this article appears in the print on March 24, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.