PRESS NION OPPOSES PRESS RESTRICTIONS

PRESS UNION OPPOSES PRESS RESTRICTION
Kathmandu, 31 Jan :: Nepal Press Union has organised a sit-in protest in the Southern Gate of the Singha Durbar, demanding to scrap the government’s decision of information classification, RSS reports..
The journalists demanded to ensure press freedom, and easy excess to the information to institutionalize democracy.
Speaking on the occasion, President of the Federation of Nepali Journalists Shiva Gaunle said easy excess to information was a must to empower people in a democracy, adding that the government’s latest move to classify the information was undemocratic.
Chairman of Nepal Press Union Kiran Pokhrel said the government decided to keep secret information instead of providing the right information to its people, thereby the journalists have been compelled to protest the move.
Likewise, former president of FNJ Taranath Dahal, Chairman of Nepal Democratic Lawyers’ Association Yadunath Khanal, Chairman of Reporters’ Club Rishi Dhamala, among others condemned the government’s move to information classification.
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KHANAL SAYS UML WILL BE LARGEST PARTY
Kathmandu, 31 Jan; Chairman of CPN-UML Jhala Nath Khanal has claimed that the top leaders of the party were committed to making the UML the single largest party by ending factionalism and maintaining discipline, RSS reports from Dhangadi..
“I will not take rest until the UML becomes the largest party. Only UML can lead the nation,” Khanal claimed.
Addressing the UML’s party strengthening and people mobilisation campaign here on Monday, the former prime minister further claimed that the UCPN-Maoist lacks guiding principle and should join the path of UML sooner or later.
As high as 400 UML cadres are present at the program.
During his one and a half hours long speech, Khanal charged that the Nepali Congress has no capacity to address the people’s aspiration for changes while the parties of Madhesi Morcha lack issues relating to nationalism.
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MAHOTO BLAMES SPEAKER FOR HIS PARTY SPLIT
Kathmandu, Jan 30: Chairman of Sadbhawana Party (SP) Rajendra Mahato on Monday has alleged Speaker Subash Chandra Nembang of being supportive to the recent yet another split in the NSP, greatwayonline.com reports.
“Speaker Subash Chandra Nembang, Vice Chairman of Janashakti Party Prakash Chandra Lohani and some of the leaders of Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM) are responsible for the party split,” said Mahato while addressing a programme at the Reporters’ Club in the Capital this afternoon.
SP lawmakers Ram Naresh Raya and Gauri Mahato Koiri on Thursday quit the party and launched their own outfit named National Sadbhawana Party.
Mahato reckoned that Nembang should take the responsibility for the party-split. “Anti-Madhes speaker will get no support from Madhes,” he warned.
The Speaker had formed a parliamentary panel headed by Lohani to make recommendations as to what action could possibly be taken against SP lawmaker Anil Kumar Jha, who had been suspended by the SP for his alleged anti-party activities.
Citing that quest for power and prosperity was the ‘disease’ behind the split of the Madhesi parties, Mahato said that ‘greedy and sinner’ have quit the party.
In a different context, Mahato claimed that no one could save the government if no progress were seen in the process of peace and constitution within a month.
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NORWEGIAN MINISTER TO CONTINUE CONSULTATIONS

kathmandu, 31 Jan.: Norwegian Environment and International Development Mnister Erik Solheim will continue consultations with political leaders before concluding a two-day visit Tuesday.
He held discussions with Prime Minster Baburam Bhattarai, NC President Sushil
Koirala and UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal Monday immediately after
arrival.
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