Bhairahawa, January 6:

Journalists led by the president of the Rupandehi chapter of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ), DR Ghimire, today staged a sit in for one-and-half hours at the District Administration Office (DAO) in protest against the government’s ‘One Door Advertisement Policy.’ They also submitted a memorandum to the Chief District Officer (CDO), Ganga Datta Awasthi.

The journalists demanded equal rights for all newspapers, magazines and radio stations.

They also submitted a memorandum at the District Post Office (DPO) demanding a roll-back of the hike in postal charges. The memorandum stated that the increase in the postal rates have hindered the circulation of newspapers and magazines. It asked the DPO to see to it that people are not deprived of getting hold of their favourite read and that it stand for a free press by withdrawing the increment in postal charges.

Speaking at the sit-in programme, central chairman of Press Chautari Nepal, Bal Krishna Chapagain, accused the CDO of acting under the army’s influence.