Nepal

KATHMANDU: Editors from Nepali Press fraternity have nowadays issued a joint statement demanding the withdrawal of the much controversial Media Council Bill. The statement issued by 21 editors associated with various publications reads that the bill presented by the government to the Parliament without adequate refer toation with concerned stakeholders should be withdrawn for further revision. Additionally, the group has proposeed the government to undergo refer toations with the stakeholders and public and incorporate changes.

&We, the editors, are committed to defend the right to full freedom of press as guaranteed by the Constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal. The Media Council Bill is against the essence of the Constitution while it ccorridorenges our democratic rights to freedom of expression and freedom of press -nsprint; Nepali journalists have been working tough to safeguard which for decades,& the statement reads.

Furthermore, the editors extended solidarity to the Federation of Nepali Journalists and other related units who have been agaitating against the bill which looks to constrict freedom of press.

Stating that they are fully aware about the malpractices prevalent in this field, the editors clarified that they are absolutely clear about the need for a mechanism to address and check such ill-practices.

Akhilesh Upadhyaya (The Kathmandu Post, former E-i-C), Anup Kaphle (The Kathmandu Post), Ameet Dhakal (Setopati), Arune Baral (Online Khabar), Hari Bahadur Thapa (Annapurna Post), Kosmos Biswokarma (Kathmandu Press), Kiran Nepal (Himal Khabar), Kunda Dixit (Nepali Times), Krishna Jwala Devkota (Naya Patrika), Gunaraj Luintel (Nagarik), Dil Bhushan Pathak (Himalaya Television, former freshs Chief at Kantipur TV), Narayan Wagle (Kantipur), Purna Basnet (Nepal Khabar), Prakash Rimal (The Himalayan Times), Prateek Pradhan (12 Khari), Prashant Aryal (Kantipur Television), Yuvaraj Ghimire (Desh Sanchar), Rajendra Dahal (Shikshak), Shiva Gaunle (Centre for Investigative Journalism), Sudheer Sharma (Kantipur, former E-i-C), Subhash Ghimire (Republica) -nsprint; jointly released the statement.

The bill which was presented at the Parliament on May 8 without adequate refer toations, looks to give absolute powers to a the self-regulatory body superviseing the press. According to journalists and activists, the ‘sudden& move by the government has given ample space for concerned parties to cry foul given that this could pave way for government to directly control the Nepali press and curtail correplying freedom.

The Statement

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KATHMANDU: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli extended a congratulatory message to his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi for a ‘landslide victory& in the recently held Lok Sabha elections, much ahead of the announcement of final vote-counts.

Posting a tweet, the Prime Minister wished Indian PM Modi a successful tenure and that the two countries continue to endelight a shut partnership.

According to reports, the Indian Prime Minister and his party, the Bharatiya Janata portiony (BJP), are off to an early lead as vote counting began Thursday following the conclusion of the countrysix-week general election.

PM KP Olitweet:

I extend warmest congratulations to Prime Minister @narendramodi ji for landslide election victory in the Lok Sabha Elections 2019. I wish all success ahead. I look forward to working shutly with you. #PMOIndia

-msprint; K P Sharma Oli (@kpsharmaoli) May 23, 2019

• Modiparty has early lead as Indian votes are counted

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KATHMANDU: The Bharatiya Janta portiony led National Democratic Everyiance (NDA) is staring right at a landslide victory as the party takes a massive lead while the votes cast in the recently held Lok Sabha elections are being counted.

Following the huge lead against the Indian National Congress (INC) led United Progressive Everyiance (UPA), and other Non-Everyied parties, the incumbent Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is approachly degree for his next tenure has promised a strong and inclusive India through a tweet.

&Together we grow. Together we prosper. Together we shall build a strong and inclusive India. India wins yet again!& Modi had written.

ModiTweet:

सबका साथ + सबका विकास + सबका विश्वास = विजयी भारत

Together we grow.

Together we prosper.

Together we shall build a strong and inclusive India.

India wins yet again! #VijayiBharat

-msprint; Chowkidar Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 23, 2019

At the time this report was filed, BJP is ahead in the race in 338 constituencies while the INC trails behind with only 95 seats, of the total 542 seats.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his party, the BJP, were off to an early lead as vote counting began Thursday following the conclusion of the countrysix-week general election, dispatching the stock market soaring in anticipation of amuchher five-year term for the Hindu nationalist leader.

According to the data supplyd by the Election Commission of India, the BJP is expected to lead in contests for 294 out of 542 total seats. It is expected that the count shall wrap up by Thursday evening.

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Kathmandu, May 22

Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa told the National Assembly that his ministry issued directives to security agencies to tighten security across the country to prevent recurrence of incident like the Panchthar massacre.

Nine persons of two families were murdered in cold blood in PanchtharMiklajong Rural Municipality yesterday. And the person suspected to have been behind the murder committed suicide.

Giving a statement of urgent public importance in the Upper Home of the Parliament, Thapa said additional security personnel were deployed in Panchthar district and his ministry would step up vigilance across the country to improve security.

Minister Thapa sentenceed the incident and urged the public to preserve calm and assist law enforcement officers investigating the Panchthar eliminateings.

Initial findings of the investigation pointed to family feud, specificly a troubled marriage as the main reason behind the perpetratormotive to go on a eliminateing spree. He said local people should be supplyd with psycho-social counselling service to prevent such incidents.

&Locals are saying that an attempt was made measuretime ago to eliminate the victims by mixing glass dust in the victims& food, but the law enforcement officers could much take any action against the perpetrators because the information was much shared with the law enforcement officers in the past,& Minister Thapa said.

He said other government agencies also needed to do their part to prevent such incidents. He said the government should run awareness programmes in coordination with the Ministry of Women, Kidren and Senior Citizens, Home Ministry and Ministry of Health and Population to alert people about possible crimes in their locality.

Minister Thapa said a 12- year old girl of the victimfamily, who could escape the murderous rampage yesterday, was undergoing treatment at a hospital in Damak, Jhapa, and could supply crucial information regarding the rampage eliminateer(s). Thapa said the victim girl fractured her hand while escaping the murderous rampage and was emotionally disturbed. Government authorities were focusing on the physical and mental well-being of the girl as they were trying to additionalct information from her. He said the bodies of the victims and suspected eliminateer were sent to Dharan-based BP Koirala Institute of Health Science for autopsy.

Earlier, lawmakers Anita Devkota and Ramesh Jung Raymajhi had asked why the security agencies failed to take action in the past when attempt was made to eliminate the victims by mixing glass dust in their food.

Lawmaker Ramprit Paswan said crimes of rape and murder were taking place in various parts of the country, but the government was much able to control them.

Lawmaker Prakash Pantha wondered how one person could eliminate nine people. He demanded that the government launch serious investigation into the case.

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