Minister warns of hiccups prior to CA elections

Pokhara, November 8:

Local Development Minister Rajendra Pandey today said there could be a number of obstacles

before the constituent assembly elections.

Inaugurating a week-long “Advanced journalism training programme” organised by the Kaski unit of Press Chautari in Pokhara, Pandey said the parties should proceed cautiously as the royalists might start hatching conspiracies to foil the constituent assembly elections.

Stating that the historic agreement reached between the government and the Maoists early today should be implemented, Pandey added, “Differences will arise if the agreement is not implemented in letter and spirit.”

“This is a victory of the people, the parties and the Maoists. Everyone is free of the fear of weapons at last,” Pandey said.

The King’s status would be decided in the very first meeting of the constituent assembly, he said.

Pandey said the dissemination of factually correct and quality news will help remove social evils.

Alleging that some journalists still file biased reports, Pandey said: “A law should be made so

as to provide compensation to those wronged by erroneous and fabricated news.”

“The government or society should not try to misuse the media,” he said.

Speaking on the same occasion, central vice-president of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) Gangadhar Parajuli urged the government to provide due benefits to working journalists.

General secretary of the FNJ, Mahendra Bista, stressed the need for privatisation of the state-owned media.

Central chairman of the Kaski Press Chautari, Bal Krishna Chapagain, said restructuring of media was required.

Altogether 20 journalists from Gandaki and Dhaulagiri are participating in the training programme.