Communications policy forward looking: Gupta

By Our Correspondent

Biratnagar, Apr. 21: Minister for Information and Communications Jaya Prakash Prasad Gupta has described the government’s policy on communications as forward looking.

"Both the print and electronic media are witnessing rapid progress and improvement with the launch of radio magazine, wave tech and e-magazine," Gupta said. "I gave permission to five new television channels only this week."

Launching a new weekly, Rastriya Nepal Times, in Biratnagar, Gupta said that journalism is the means of generating awareness, and it can change the structure and the thinking of the society. "That’s why the media should be fair, impartial and fearless,"

Gupta said, "If media is used for personal gains or to slander others people will question its credibility," said Gupta.

Although the just concluded session of parliament passed several bills for good governance and corruption control, the media failed to stir up substantive and meaningful discussions, he said.

Gupta said a bill on the right to information has been registered in the parliament and it would be passed in the coming session.

Referring to his recent expulsion from the party membership, Gupta said he had started his political life and journalistic career from Biratnagar.

He made some acrimonious remarks on the failed opportunities for the country’s second biggest city to lead in the political, economic and social fronts. "What has Biratnagar given to the country," he asked? "Let alone those with differing views, Biratnagar has failed to accommodate even those who agree."

Gupta said: "I have never felt wounded by the bullet Biratnagar fired at me."

Vice-chairman of Press Chautari Nepal, Yagya Prasad Sharma said journalism may have flourished in Biratnagar, but not journals.

Coordinator of the Regional Information Resource Centre, Biratnagar, Toya Gautam said publishing a newspaper is not a big deal, what is needed is professionalism.

The programme was chaired by publisher of Rastriya Nepal Times Indra Neelam Ghadewa.

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