Minister for Information and Communication Krishna Bahadur Mahara today said the new government would not put curb on foreign investment in media.

Speaking during his first news conference as a cabinet member on Monday, Mahara said it was impossible for the coalition government to control foreign investment in media. He hinted that new legislation in his regard was unlikely during his term in the Information and Communication Ministry.

Mahara’s statement effectively dispelled the worst fear of a certain section that the Maoists would push for tougher laws to check foreign investment in the media. He said media outlets running with foreign investment should be made to “operate within the boundary of national interest”.

He, however, assured to bring legislations including demanded by the Federation of Nepalese Journalists to protect the rights of journalists and ensure press freedom.

Minister Mahara also said that FM stations run by his party around the country would be ‘regulated’.

Saying that the main concern now is the election to constituent assembly, Maraha urged the media to disseminate information on the CA election in a positive manner.