Birgunj, September 29:

The local daily newspaper publications in Birgunj have decided to boycott the seven political parties, saying they recommended to the Birgunj sub-metropolis office to provide grants to local weekly newspapers.

The newspaper committee of the sub-metropolis office had on Wednesday recommended that Rs 325,000 be distributed among the local weekly papers as annual grant. Representatives of the seven parties are also the members of the committee. According to the recommendation, 18 weekly papers will receive Rs 18,000 each annually. “The committee recommended for providing grants following the application of Weekly Fortnightly Nation Network, Parsa district unit. The weekly papers, which will receive grants, have not been listed in the blacklist issued by the seven parties,” said Shiv Patel, coordinator of the committee.

“The grant to weekly papers is not justified. These papers are cheating,” said Gaya Yadav, coordinator of the daily newspapers’ association. The municipal council last year had

decided to provide Rs 1,500 monthly each to the weekly papers. Weekly Fortnightly

Nation Network, Parsa, said it was the right of the weekly papers to demand grant announced by the sub-metropolis.