Kathmandu, August 12:

CPN-UML standing committee member Bamdev Gautam today flayed criticized the government for going against the mandate of the Jana Andolan and turning deaf to the people.

“It is disappointing that the government is going against the spirit of the revolution,” he said, addressing the first meeting of the Valley section of Press Chautari. He accused the government of trying to renege on its 8-point agreement with the Maoists.

Gautam said the seven parties are infiltrated by royalists. This factor is propelling parties to take regressive decisions. As a result, they are becoming unpopular by the day. Gautam said the Maoists also were wracked by the royalist infiltration problem. That is why some elements among the Maoists are busy extorting money. He urged the media to take the country towards a fruitful election to the constituent assembly.

Shiva Gaule, vice-president of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists, demanded all media-related laws and regulations be rewritten and press freedom be made secure so that no ruler could twist these or dictate to the media.

“The government media, run by public taxes, should be prised out of the clutches of the government, and firm legal grounds should be made to run NTV and Radio Nepal,” he demanded.es Bamdev