KATHMANDU, MARCH 5
In the light of criticism of the Social Media Bill, a journalist questioned PM KP Sharma Oli on February 16 about whether he was imitating infamous dictator Hitler by bringing bills that stifle freedom of expression and undermine democratic norms.
Following that question, journalist Prakash Oli read in the news early this morning that his pass card to enter parliament has been suspended for a month along with another journalist, Kishor Kumar Shrestha.
"I got to know about the cancellation of my pass card to parliament through news stories," he told THT.
Meanwhile, Ek Ram Giri, a spokesperson for the Federal Parliament, told THT that "the general secretary of parliament decided to cancel the passes of two journalists yesterday."
With the decision of the secretariat, the passes for Prakash Oli of the 'Sunaulo Nepal' news portal and Kishore Kumar Shrestha of the 'Yuba Man Nepal' channel have been cancelled by Parliament.
Eventually, parliament resounded with the question of whether PM Oli is imitating Hitler today, as Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) legislator Shishir Khanal expressed his dissatisfaction with the Parliament Secretariat's suspension of two journalists' Parliament passes while speaking at a lower house meeting.
"The Federal Parliament suspended the passes of two journalists for merely asking, 'Are you imitating Hitler?'" he said.
"A few days ago, the ruling party questioned whether someone who won the election could also be Hitler in this same parliament. The Parliament Secretariat had alerted them, and here comes suspension today."
He urged leaders to read German history from the 1930s. "Hitler did not emerge from the gun barrel. He emerged from the election. When he came to power, he stripped democratic rights and turned into a dictator," Khanal stated.
Stating the government is also attempting to do the same as Hitler, he asked, "When people oppose the Prime Minister in a football match on a public stage, they are either beaten up or imprisoned. Now, my question to the Prime Minister: Are you becoming Hitler?
Recently, CPN-UML cadres bashed up youth opposing PM KP Sharma Oli during the PM Oli Cup. A video of a man being beaten up while shouting slogans against Prime Minister Oli during Monday's final match between Machhindra and the Nepal Army at Dashrath Stadium went viral on social media and has been shared numerous times by netizens.
Gyanendra Shahi, chief whip of the opposition Rastriya Prajatantra Party, demanded action today against the person who beat up spectators during the KP Oli Cup final match.
"Will the Prime Minister's party cadres goons assault people merely for opposing in the audience? Instead of saving the victim, police assisted in beating them up," Shahi questioned.
"Wonderful work, Home Minister and Prime Minister; what kind of democracy is this of yours?
On the other hand, RSP lawmaker Shiva Nepali stated that freedom of expression is a fundamental principle of democracy.
However, he stated that there is a perception that the prime minister of a democratic government does not support democracy. "When the Prime Minister is asked a question, two journalists' entry passes are revoked. Because he (the prime minister) did not like questions."
Another RSP lawmaker, Hari Dhakal, urged the government to withdraw the decision to suspend the journalist's pass.
Similarly, stating that restricting press access undermines the public's right to information and sets a dangerous precedent, Laxman Datt Pant, Executive Director of Media Action Nepal, said, "In democratic societies, criticism of government actions should be encouraged, not penalised."
He urged the government to uphold democratic values by ensuring that journalists can perform their duty without fear of retribution and called for an immediate reversal of this decision.
Meanwhile, the Federation of Nepali Journalists has stated that the Federal Parliament Secretariat does not have the authority to cancel journalist's passes.
"The Press Council of Nepal has the authority to determine whether the journalist's question violates the journalist code of conduct or not. The federation urges the federal parliament to respect press freedom by withdrawing the suspension of the journalist's pass, taking into account the council's jurisdiction," according to a FNJ statement.
