Kathmandu, August 12

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli said that his government was committed to democracy, press freedom and human rights.

He said this to newly elected executive members of Nepal Media Society, an organisation of country’s publication houses, according to a press release issued by the PM’s Private Secretariat. Stating that he had served 14-year jail term for the sake of democracy, Prime Minister Oli said many of his party leaders and cadres attained martyrdom for the sake of democracy and hence his government and the Nepal Communist Party (NCP) would never pose any threat to democracy.

“Our party is the creator of democracy. I cannot imagine a threat to democracy, press freedom and human rights at a time when this party is in the government. Media should understand that the government will not curtail press freedom,” the PM added.

He said some media outlets had portrayed the government as anti-civil liberty due to its decision to ban protests at Maitighar Mandala.

“Is Maitighar Mandala an appropriate place for protesters? Is it fair to portray the government as anti-civil liberty?” the PM wondered.

The things that the media outlets are reporting today, should prove to be true and relevant even after 20 years, the PM said.

He said in 10 years the country’s turnaround could be possible. He said the government was working on a plan to reduce the percentage of people dependent on agriculture to 20 per cent while at the same time the government also planned to increase productivity manifold.

The PM wished NMS Chair Shubha Shankar Kandel and other office bearers of the organisation a successful tenure.