KATHMANDU, AUGUST 5

Minster of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Dhanraj Gurung asserted that no laws would be formulated in a way to affect the freedom of the press.

Minister Gurung said this at a discussion 'proposed information and communications bill' organised by Nepal Press Unionwith the assistance of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Nepal today.

'As a democrat I cannot even think about introducing a bill and enacting it into law to stifle media freedom,' he said, adding, 'Discussion, however, was being held to contain anomalies propping up in social media content'.

The minister said he was not aware of any discussion to muzzle media and its freedom.

Saying that he was also sensitive to this effect, Minister Gurung noted they would not forget the contributions of media sector in reinstating democracy in the country. 'Contents discussed can be amended. I am ready to check wrongdoings to that end,' he asserted. NPU President Shiva Lamsal said key takeaways of the discussion would be submitted to the government.

'There has been a trend of forming committees and eliciting suggestions but not implementing the recommendations.

We want the government to execute them as reforms'. The government has to amend the law that was introduced to control journalists from freely practising journalism, Lamsal said.

On the occasion, former chairperson of the Federation of Nepali Journalists and NPU adviser Taranath Dahal highlighted the role of NPU in effecting legal reforms in the mass communications sector.

Also present on the occasion were FNJ Chair Bipul Pokharel along with other ex-chairs of the Federation Harihar Birahi, Kishor Nepal, Dharmendra Jha and former presidents of NPU.

A version of this article appears in the print on August 6, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.