Miscellaneous
Attack on Kantipur condemned
Various political parties, ministers, CA members and professional bodies on Wednesday condemned the ongoing obstruction in the printing and distribution of Kantipur and The Kathmandu PostThe All Nepal Revol-utionary Communi-cation Press and Publication Union has been obstructing the regular operation of the Publication for over a week.
The Nepali Congress (NC) has taken exception to the ongoing obstruction terming it an undemocratic and anarchic activity. “The party views these activities as a direct attack on freedom of press and expression,” reads a statement issued by NC Chief Secretary Rishikesh Tiwari.
The NC has urged the CPN-Maoist to act as a responsible political party by immediately ending the obstruction and find a peaceful solution through talks. The party has also appealed to the government to discourage these activities and create an environment for smooth distribution of the dailies.
Bimalendra Nidhi, minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport said the obstruction is an attack on democracy. “A Maoist party is threatening to disrupt the Parliament session, while another is attacking on the media. Is it a ploy not to make the constitution?” he asked, while addressing a programme in the Capital on Wednesday.
Former president of Federation of Nepali Journalists Harihar Birahi said the attack on Kantipur Publications is spearheaded by those who do not believe in democracy. “They are anarchists and this is an attack on all the newspapers of the country,” he said.
Similarly, Congress CA member Uday Shamsher Rana said nobody has right to obstruct people’s right to information.
President of Democratic Development Society Kedar Narasingha demanded the government take action against those involved in assaults on the Publications’ staffers and torching copies of the papers.
The Nepal Professors’ Association also expressed concerns over the prolonged obstruction in the regular operation of the Kantipur Publications. “To infringe citizens’ right to information is inappropriate to any organisation,” association’s Chairman Rameshwor Upadhyaya said in a statement.
Deploring union’s actions, the Nepal Student Unioin has urged the government to create a conducive environment to publish and distribute the newspapers.
Sudarshan Acharya of the Nepal Press Council said that the union can put forth their demands but they cannot curtail people’s right to information.
While the newspaper distribution in Kathmandu has been affected partially, the union has completely disrupted distribution in Pokhara and Chitwan. The union cadres also held a demonstration in front of the publication premises on Wednesday.