Journalists Federation President Sharma Accuses Government of Narrowing Media Stance

Kathmandu. Nepal Journalists Federation President Nirmala Sharma has accused the government of having a narrow view towards the media.

Addressing a program organized by the Federation in Lalitpur on Sunday, she accused the government of curtailing freedom of expression. She commented that although the constitution guarantees freedom of thought and expression, a positive change in the government's perspective towards the media has not been seen in the first 100 days of the new government.

She accused journalists of having limited access to information. She claimed that although journalists have the capacity to reach ministries in Singha Durbar, they are not even able to go to the gate of the Prime Minister's Office and Council of Ministers. She expressed dissatisfaction, stating that journalists do not have easy access to parliamentary committees. President Sharma accused the government of trying to control the press from the economic center.

President Sharma said that although the right to seek information, obtain information, and publish or broadcast news or content only after testing and verifying facts falls under press and freedom of expression, the government does not appear to be in favor of press freedom according to the constitution.