KATHMANDU: Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) this morning took out a rally to mark the World Press Freedom Day 2017.

Under the banner 'Sensitive Vision in Sensitive Time: Media's Role for Peaceful, Inclusive and Just Society', the rally started from Naya Baneshwor and converged into a corner meeting after reaching Maitighar Mandala.

Addressing the meeting, FNJ President Mahendra Bista spoke of 'still not being able to sense complete press freedom'. He added that although the press freedom has been enshrined in the constitution, attacks were continuing on press under different pretexts.

The FNJ President said that the guilty has not been subjected to action, the 'incidents of press freedom' has increased since investigations into attacks on journalists have not been launched. He added that the press freedom incidents have increased as if a trend since there was no complete press freedom.

Bista further said that the journalists were forced to write news under control since there was no press freedom in practice. He stressed the need for freedom of press in a democratic country stating that the country's transformation was possible through the medium of journalism.

On the occasion, FNJ General Secretary Ujir Magar said that there were 71 cases related to press freedom this year alone. Magar took the occasion to underline 16 incidents of mistreatment suffered by journalists, 11 incidents of arrests of journalists and 11 cases of attacks on journalists.

The rally was participated by FNJ's former President Dharmendra Jha, Press Union Chair Badri Sigdel, Press Chautari Nepal's former Chair Rajendra Aryal, Press Centre Nepal's former General Secretary Om Sharma including journalists affiliated with various media houses.