KATHMANDU, MARCH 16

Lawmakers today strongly urged the Press Council Nepal (PCN) to withdraw its decision to take unilateral action against The Himalayan Times.

Speaking during today's parliamentary session, Chief Whip of the ruling Nepali Congress, Shyam Kumar Ghimire, drew the Speaker's serious attention to the PCN's draconian action against THT.

'Through this House, I strongly urge the PCN to immediately withdraw its action against THT,' the NC's Chief Whip demanded.

Referring to the consequences of the authoritarian regime's past actions against the press and media, NC lawmaker Rama Koirala Paudel stated that any attack on independent media would be detrimental to the democratic nation. 'Why did the PCN impose this decision against THT?' she questioned. Lawmaker Paudel also called for the immediate withdrawal of the PCN's action against THT.

During today's House meeting, NC lawmaker Rajendra Bajgain submitted a memo to the Minister of Communication and Information Technology, Prithvi Subba Gurung, seeking his immediate intervention on the issue. 'It is evident that the PCN's action against THT was motivated by British climber Nirmal 'Nims' Purja,' Bajgain told Minister Gurung.

As the PCN's arbitrary decision against THT was based on its series of investigative stories exposing Purja and his UK-based company, Elite Exped, Lawmaker Bajgain highlighted how a copy of the illegal order was shared by the PCN with Purja long before it was sent to THT.

Taking to X, lawmaker Bajgain demanded the PCN to reverse the action against The Himalayan Times and safeguard press freedom.

Earlier, several media organizations, including the Nepal Media Society, Media Alliance Nepal, Freedom Forum, Media Action Nepal, and the THT Chapter of the Federation of Nepali Journalists, among others, condemned the PCN for its action against THT and demanded its immediate withdrawal.