Government undertaking works of lasting effect: Minister Banskota

Minister for Communications and Information Technology Gokul Prasad Banskota has asserted that the incumbent government has been undertaking work in every sector that were new and of lasting importance.

Addressing the launching ceremony of Gorkhapatra’s Kohalpur edition at Kohalpur in Banke district Wednesday, Minister Banskota reiterated that the government had been proving all the allegations against it wrong by undertaking new works and works of lasting effects. "It is said that public were in despair and were hopeless of the government. Anyone can criticize the government but we are waiting for the day when the public would get to learn about the government’s works," he said.

Claiming that the public were satisfied with the government’s performance, the Minister reaffirmed, "We are yet to achieve cent per cent success. This is just a beginning. We have a clear two-thirds majority and we have been undertaking sustainable works in every sector."

Stating that the Gorkhapatra was not solely of government but also belonged to the State and the public, he said, "Gorkhapatra is not solely government’s. It incorporates all sectors. It covers every sort of news. It is wrong to say Gorkhapatra has been manipulated by the government without reading any of its content. "

According to him, the political parties might have abused the media but it was not the case in the recent times. Referencing that every government owned a media in any country in the world, the Minister shared that the government was trying to develop Gorkhapatra as the State-owned media but it was, according to him, for the sake of authentication of State.

He also viewed that Grokhapatra should enhance its competitiveness rather than running at the behest of the government. He shared that Gorkhapatra Corporation had its own cemented building with a running press in Biratnagar while a tender has been called for constructing a building for the Gorkhapatra at Kohalpur.

The Minister said that the Gorkhapatra should not be afraid to be a watchdog for the government but it should also promote the good deeds of the government.

Stating that the media in Nepal had undergone a sea change, the Minister said that the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology had raised the agenda of economically empowering the Nepali press and further advancing this agenda through Advertisement Act.

Minister Banskota, also the Spokesperson of the government, warned of stern action against those embezzling public properties/funds. "It is high time to change the face of the country. When shall a country witness a change if not when it has a strong government as the incumbent one? The government will move ahead without any prejudices."