PM Deuba applauds NTV for reliable services

KATHMANDU, Jan 31: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has said the Nepal Television (NTV) has been successful in establishing itself as a balanced and reliable media house.

In his address to a ceremony held to mark the 33rd anniversary of NTV on Thursday, the Prime Minister said, “The NTV has been working hand in hand with the State in institutionalizing the federal democratic republic in the nation.”

NTV, established after 50 years of the establishment of a TV station in the world has now delivered its services through four transmissions—NTV,NTV plus, NTV News and NTV Kohalpur.

Underlining the need of vital role of media to promote economic prosperity, good governance, fraternity and national unity and to keep national integrity intact in the country, the Prime Minister stated that democracy and press freedom were interrelated and democracy could not survive in the absence of press media.

Also speaking on the occasion, Minister for Information and Communications, Mohan Bahadur Basnet, said it was the need of the hour that NTV should now function as per the new federal setups and the government was ready to extend all sorts of support towards that end.

Referring to his direction to NTV’s chairperson to expand its access all over the country, he said the government was ready to provide any support in this regard.

CPN-UML Secretary Yogesh Bhattarai recognized the leading role of the television in uniting all for democratic and social justice, while informing and making aware the people through its service.

NTV’s Chairman Mahesh Raj Dahal informed that efforts have been initiated for providing High-definition television technology services from the coming Nepali month of Shrawan.

NTV’s General Manager Gobinda Rokka informed that NTV is accessible by the total 148 countries through satellite, and by 72 percent of Nepal’s population.

On the occasion, Prime Minister Deuba said that the government was formed under his leadership with an objective of holding elections and added that the incumbent government had not handed over the power as the National Assembly election had not been conducted yet.

He also urged the UML Secretary Bhattarai to read the constitution thoroughly after Bhattarai blamed the government making delay in handing the power to a new leadership.

The Prime Minister said that forming a new government without holding National Assembly election was unconstitutional and added that it was his compulsion to hold NA election. RSS