KATHMANDU – Minister for Communications and Information Technology Gyanendra Bahadur Karki has said democracy without press freedom cannot sustain.
The incumbent government has safeguarded and encourages press freedom and freedom of speech as guaranteed by the constitution, he said at an event with the theme of ‘National Journalism Award and Senior Journalist Honour’ organised on Saturday by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology on the occasion of the National Journalism Day.
The minister praised the media for playing important roles in helping the country pursue prosperity through good-governance and the rule of law. “People’s aspirations for democracy and prosperity cannot be fulfilled without press freedom and the government is working hand-in-hand. So, inform the society and guard the government by exercising your freedom. You should guide the government to pursue the path of good-governance and the rule of law.”
The government would protect press freedom and freedom of speech as envisioned by the constitution, he said. Likewise, FNJ President Bipul Pokharel stressed the need for the state to guide the media as a guardian along with its regulation instead of controlling it.
Similarly, former President of the Federation of Nepali Journalists Taranath Dahal urged the government to bring an integrated act related to communications with suggestions from the respective fields as per the spirit of the constitution. On the occasion, senior journalist Kishor Nepal and former FNJ President Dahal were honoured with the ‘Senior Journalist Award, 2078’.
Similarly, late journalist Sukadev Nepal (posthumously), Harsha Subba, Raghu Mainali and Shardul Bhattarai were awarded the award for 2076/77 BS. Also, journalists DR Panta, Ekwal Ahmad, Thakur Prasad Belbase, Bal Kumar Nepal, Ganga Baral and Samjhana Ban were awarded with the ‘National Journalism Award, 2078’.
The award for 2076/77 was awarded to journalists Indraman Buda, Matrika Paudel, Sangita Khadka, Sheshraj Dahal, Hemanta Bahadur BK, Shital Shah, Dilip Kumar Thapa Magar, Dipesh Neupane, Durga Prasad Sharma, Suroj Jung Pandey, Nitu Pandit and Punam Paudel. The awards carry a purse of Rs 100,000 each.
