Kathmandu, August 25

The Nepali Congress felicitated the new leadership of Federation of Nepali Journalists, the umbrella organisation of Nepali journalists, at an event in Kathmandu today.

Extending felicitation to the newly elected executive committee of FNJ, NC General Secretary Shashank Koirala said the media sector had a crucial role in institutional development of democracy. “The media sector needs to be watchful all the time against any possible threat to democracy,” he said, adding that press freedom should be maintained in the country.

Addressing the function, newly-elected FNJ President Govinda Acharya expressed commitment that press freedom would never be compromised.

NC leader Koirala, former deputy prime minister Sujata Koirala and former foreign minister Prakash Sharan Mahat, among other dignitaries, were also present at the event.

At a separate event, NC Parliamentary Party Secretary Dhruba Wagle handed over a cheque of Rs 10.69 million raised from NC lawmakers for rescue and relief of flood victims across the country, to the NC Acting President Bimalendra Nidhi. NC lawmakers had contributed their one month’s salaries to the fund.

Receiving the cheque, Nidhi said the amount would be deposited in the bank account of the party’s flood victim relief fund, according to a statement issued by the NC parliamentary party office today.