Lawmaker Jayanti Devi Rai Accuses Government of Authoritarianism

Kathmandu. Nepal Communist Party lawmaker Jayanti Devi Rai has accused the government of becoming increasingly authoritarian. Speaking during the special session of the National Assembly on Wednesday, she stated that the government has made an autocratic decision to restrict official notices and advertisements from private media outlets.

She remarked that the government has been making numerous controversial decisions in a short period. She demanded the withdrawal of undemocratic actions, including the ban on advertisements in private media and the dissolution of student organizations. She noted that while she does not wish to speak against a government that holds a strong public mandate, she cannot remain silent after a series of controversial actions.

She stated, 'The Cabinet Secretariat has recently issued a secretary-level circular. This circular has immediately sparked significant controversy. The decision to allow only state-owned media to carry government notices and advertisements while barring private media is extremely wrong and undemocratic. I want to ask why the government is making its decisions controversial. This decision is an undemocratic and authoritarian act that will collapse all private media and gradually strip away the right to press freedom. I demand that this decision be corrected immediately.'
She added, 'We were at the forefront of the movement to establish these rights and this system; thousands have shed their blood. Sometimes the government decides to ban student organizations, and other times it tries to suppress press organizations. Today, the right of students to organize and speak is being snatched away. We do not want to speak against this government that has received public trust, but we cannot remain silent today!'

She also mentioned that women and adolescent girls are increasingly becoming victims of cyberattacks. She demanded that the government take strict measures to curb cyber violence against women.