Bhairahawa, February 11

Minister of Information and Communications Gokul Baskota today said the government was committed to realising the goal of ‘Happy Nepalis, and prosperous Nepal’ despite the flood of criticism from the media and opposition parties.

Speaking at an Annual General Meeting of Rupandehi chapter of Federation of Nepali Journalists, Baskota said various conspiracies were being hatched to discredit the government and render the federal and republican system in the country a failure. He flayed the media for giving coverage to news without checking facts. “The government will not be distracted by the protest and criticism,” he added.

Baskota said the government was preparing to bring out a new media law to strengthen press freedom and the media sector. He said the bill on advertisement tabled in the Parliament would help increase the flow of advertisement.

Minister Baskota assured that the government would respect democratic norms and values and move ahead accordingly.

“Protest against the government will have no impact”, he said. He informed that the government was working to provide pension to journalists who have crossed the age of 65 and was planning to set up one communication village each in all seven provinces.