On July 20, the first day of the nationwide collection of people's feedback on the draft constitution, the demonstrators burnt major daily newspapers as Kantipur, Nagarik, Nayapatrika and Annapurna Post dailies, reasoning they did not make the news about the activities of the political parties from the southern plains (Tarai/Madhes) of the country.
"The demonstrators burnt the newspapers in Parsa, accusing the newspapers of not giving priority to the activities of Madhesi political parties," said Kamal Kumar Upadhayay, editor of the Kripa daily from neighbouring Bara district.
The demonstrators, as Mr Upadhyay said, barged into local stationery, sloganeering against the ruling political parties, seized the newspapers, and burnt some 20 copies of the dailies.
Freedom Forum condemns the incident, as it is sheer violation of press freedom and people's right to information. Criticism of any political party and ideology is common, but burning newspapers and obstructing free flow of information is against press freedom and thus an anti-democratic trend.
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Freedom Forum
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Post Box No: 24292
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Website: www.nepalpressfreedom.org; www.freedomforum.org.np
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