JSP Nepal Condemns Government Decision to Restrict Ads to State Media

Kathmandu. The Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP), Nepal, has expressed strong objection to the government's decision to stop providing government advertisements and notices to private media outlets.

The party has labeled the circular issued by the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers—directing all federal ministries, commissions, secretariats, as well as provincial and local levels to publish and broadcast information only through state-owned media—as a direct assault on press freedom.

In a released statement, JSP Nepal accused the government of intending to control private media, which serves as the fourth estate of democracy, by weakening them financially.

JSP asserts that depriving media outlets, which act as guardians of democracy, of advertisements is a direct attack on freedom of expression and civil rights. The party has strongly condemned this move, stating that the decision is contrary to democratic values and norms.

According to the statement, at a time when private media are already suffering due to the current economic crisis, the government has further acted to strip them of their livelihood. JSP expressed concern that banning government advertisements could lead to the closure of several media outlets and leave working journalists unemployed. The party claims that this government move will indirectly lead to press censorship and collapse independent journalism, which serves as the voice of the voiceless.