KATHMANDU, Oct 15 - Education Minister Radha Krishna Mainali on Saturday criticized the Indian government's statement against the newly introduced Press Ordinance.
"Indian government should not intervene in the internal matters of Nepal," he said, while speaking at the Reporters' Club Nepal. "It should not be India's concern what the Nepal government does."
He also criticized the recent visit of some Indian leaders representing the current United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government and said, "It is a naked show of intervention in our national affairs."
Asked whether it was not an intervention when Indian leaders of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) came to Nepal and supported the king's February 1 royal takeover, the minister blurted out, "Can you equate someone coming with garlands with those who come to give a slap?"
He said that the journalists' movement against the Press Ordinance would take them nowhere. He also iterated that no single media house would be allowed to run three media - radio, television and print - once the ordinance comes into effect.
The minister was reminded that the government was running three media under a single house. Minister Mainali countered, "How can one compare private organizations with the government?"
On the parties’ announcement about boycotting municipal and parliamentary polls, he said that the "government would otherwise hold election even without the parties".
Meanwhile, NC leader Sushil Koirala speaking in Nepalgunj on Friday said the government has initiated steps to eliminate democracy and democrats by introducing the draconian Press Ordinance.
"The king is playing a foul game of destroying democracy. The introduction of Press Ordinance is an extension of autocracy and also another attack on democracy," Koirala said.
Meanwhile, the Nepal University Teachers' Association (NUTA) has condemned the government for introducing Press Ordinance to control free media.
Similarly, Defend Human Rights Movement - Nepal (DHRM-N), formerly known as group of 25 human rights organizations, in a press statement issued on Tuesday and received here today, said that the Press Ordinance violates national and international provisions of democracy, civil liberties and political rights, press freedom and freedom of expression.
