Minister Banskota highlights need of ‘golden era’ for journalism

Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Gokul Prasad Baskota, has said the incumbent government caused no threat to freedom of the Press.

In his address to a programme organised by the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ), Bhaktapur on the occasion of its 23rd establishment day in Bhaktapur yesterday, the Government Spokesperson made it clear that he would resign from his post to come to the street if the situation arose under which press freedom was squeezed.

He claimed that media biasness was evident as views intended for something were being presented differently in media.

Minister for Communications and Information Technology assured that the Media Council Bill would not be passed neglecting journalists’ rights and interests.

He said the Journalism Welfare Fund of 53.4 Rs million had been set up after he became the minister and this fund would be increased to 100 million Rs. Stating it was wrong to practice journalism based on doubts, he said the wrongdoers must be punished.