Media law will be as per constitution: PM Oli

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said the government would make media laws as per existing laws and constitutional spirit. Inaugurating the Itahari Channel launched by the NTV via video conference here Friday, PM Oli urged one and all not to cast doubt on the government because it was attentively listening to people’s aspiration and demand from media sector, and would frame the laws accordingly.

"At a time when the country has made headway to good governance and development, we want to make country prosperous by boosting people’s morale," PM Oli reminded, adding that time has come to create hope and confidence rather than disheartening people.

According to him, government has carried out various development activities in the recent time in line with the national ambition of ‘prosperous Nepal: happy Nepali’. "The unprecedented development needs to be publicized positively via media. We are yet to do it properly," he stressed and expressed confidence that Nepal Television would set up itself as an exemplary media with due responsibility.

Saying that his government accomplished very important jobs in the past two years, the PM stated that the media should perform its role by disseminating opinions and news in a free, fair and neutral manner as a watchdog that is free of negativity and biases.

"Some have made irrelevant arguments that the government was attempting to tamper democracy; attempting to push the nation towards totalitarianism; trying to limit the press freedom, and controlling freedom of speech and expression. We are always worried about protection of complete press freedom and I again want to make it clear that the government is committed to this," PM Oli said.

Reiterating that the government was expecting to make Nepal a prosperous and modern country, PM Oli stressed that the country’s prosperity was not likely by troubling others; defaming others; criticizing others and by making illegal interference or obstructions or damaging others’ private, familial, social and professional interests.

"Human rights and fundamental rights have been ensured to all. Our democracy will be robust and can go ahead by considering all these things. All of ours’ attention should go to this direction," Oli urged.