KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has said that democracy without press freedom cannot be imagined.

Releasing a book entitled 'Press Freedom in Nepal' by Federation of Nepalese Journalist President  Mahendra Bista here on Thursday, the Prime Minister said that press freedom would be pushed to a risk if democracy did not prevail.

PM Deuba said that  it is press freedom in Nepal that has sustained democracy adding that press freedom has been ensured in the constitution itself.

The PM underscored the need for crucial contribution of the press to institutionalize the obtained achievements by strengthening the democracy.

He also said that the media should perform positive role to further strengthen Nepal's national unity, geographical diversity and culture, languages of all communities, adding that the journalists should disseminate the news based on truth and fact by using the rights ensured by press freedom.

"One can make expressions based on one's ideology and prejudices outwardly but the audience should be offered with truth and facts in regard to the news," PM Deuba said.

He also said that information dissemination should be done to maintain national unity by respecting the sentiments of people of all regions.

Also speaking at the programme, Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission Anup Raj Sharma said that human rights and press enjoy inseparable relations adding that free press is required to ensure rights of the citizens.

Commenting on the book,  P. Kharel praised the creation terming it a book with powerful compilation of media history in Nepal.

The book published by Shangri-La Books is categorised in six different sections with 315 pages  and is sold for Rs 475.