RUPANDEHI: Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal today said the Constituent Assembly would guarantee press freedom in the new constitution.

Inaugurating the Sixth National Convention of Press Chautari Nepal in Butwal today, Nepal said he was in favour of unfettered press freedom.

“I will work fully to ensure press freedom in the country,’’ he vowed, stating that the press sector was currently insecure due mainly to non-government players. Citing examples of the murder of journalists Uma Singh, Gyanendra Khadka and Birendra Shah, the premier said the murder series had not ended yet.

The PM said the government was effortful to secure mediapersons physically and professionally. He claimed that the government had done a lot for the

welfare of journalist and the

media. On new constitution, Nepal said

it would be drafted within the set time provided that major political parties were united for the purpose.

Stating that the government was committed to taking the peace process to a logical

conclusion, the PM said the special committee formed to rehabilitate the Maoist combatants was busy preparing a special programme. He underlined the need of consensus among political parties on the issue of rehabilitating Maoist combatants.

Separately, Dharmendra Jha, President, Federation of Nepali Journalists, said journalists should work to ensure press freedom in the new statute and exert pressure on the government and parties for a timely promulgation of the law of the land.