Bharatpur, Feb. 11:Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai has said the role played by the Fourth Estate following the restoration of democracy in keeping the people informed and its contribution to fostering democracy undoubtedly stands worthy of appreciation.
In a message to the national convention of the Editors’ Society Nepal here today, Mr Bhattarai expressed the hope that the society will focus its activity on promoting democracy vis-a-vis the country’s reality and wished the convention success.
In a similar message today, former prime minister and Nepali Congress central president Girija Prasad Koirala has said the convention will hold wide-ranging discussions on the relevance of journalism, solving problems dogging this sector, media’s role in democratic stability and the role of press in foreign policy, and thus contribute to the formation of a national policy.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Information and Communications Ram Chandra Poudel has said public awareness for human rights has increased tremendously in the past 10 years of democracy, but there is no corresponding rise in observing ones’ own duty.
Mr Poudel, while inaugurating the national convention of the Editors’ Society Nepal here today, observed that we should sacrifice our personal interests for the sake of national interests in order to further strengthen the unification process initiated by Prithvinarayan Shah the Great.
Stating that without development democracy cannot last and development is today’s main challenge, he highlighted the crucial role of the press in removing corruption and other anomalies.
The Deputy Prime Minister also urged the press to build public opinion for fighting distortions and aberrations and spoke of the need of people-oriented and impartial journalism.
NC spokesman Narahari Acharya remarked that only healthy discussions and thoughts can lead the nation to progress and prosperity.
MP Homnath Dahal hoped that the convention will come up with concrete conclusions, while mp Rabindranath Sharma noted that journalists should caution the government and keep the people informed.
PM’s press advisor Kishore Nepal said the convention will find solutions to the editors’ problems, while president of Federation of Nepal Journalists Suresh Acharya noted that journalists should be allowed to put forth their views and opinions openly.
President of Nepal Press Union Kulchandra Wagle, senior journalist Hiranyalal Shrestha and Chitwan ddc chairman Bishnu Ghimire also spoke at the function chaired by chairman of the society Govinda Biyogi.
On the occasion, industrialist Gajananda Vaidya promised to donate Rs 1.5 million for the construction of society’s office building and library.
Similarly, publisher of the “Saptahik Chitwan” Viradevi Sharma also promised to donate Rs 10,000 on behalf of the weekly to the society’s revolving fund.