Minister Basnet urges all to put joint efforts to make election successful

BHAKTAPUR, Oct 18: Minister for Information and Communications, Mohan Bahadur Basnet has asserted on making the House of Representatives and State Assembly elections scheduled for November 26 and December 7 successful through the joint efforts of all.

Speaking during a reception and greetings exchange program organized by the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ), Bhaktapur branch in Bhaktapur on Wednesday, he said, “The election of the local levels has already been held. It is necessary to conduct the upcoming elections to the House of Representatives and State Assemblies for the full implementation of the constitution.”

Stating that the time has come to work for the nation by forsaking personal interest and staying away from accusation and counter-accusations, he said, “This is no time to keep the country in confusion by engaging in party and personal interests.

The country should be taken ahead towards prosperity through the full implementation of the constitution after holding the elections. All sides should be engaged in this.”

Expressing concern over the increase in anomalies in some of the mass media rather than objective and credible news, the Minister for Information and Communications said the media should not shy away from its social responsibility.

Minister Basnet expressed his concern over the tendency of disseminating fake news just to seek revenge just for personal animosity, he said, “Online media except few one are out of the journalism ethics. Some are unregistered and the FNJ role is vital in this context to make media professional by taking them on track.” He said he was ready to sit with the FNJ for discussions so as to seek solution to problems of journalists.

On the occasion, the Minister honored new FNJ office bearers and members.

FNJ Vice- Chair Dilip Thapa Magar and Ramesh Bista called on the government to be serious towards the demands of journalists.

Nepali Congress Bhaktapur district president Durlav Thapa stressed that dissemination of the fact-based news should be the ethnic of journalists.

CPN (Maoist Centre) district coordinator DP Dhakal insisted on the active participation of all to ensure the elections within the scheduled dates.

Bhakatapur’s assistant chief district officer Jay Kumar Ghimire sought the effective role from journalists to ensure the peaceful elections.

FNJ Bhaktaur chapter Puskar Raj Budathoki drew the attention of the government to pay a heed to address the problems of journalists. RSS