AUGUST 12, 2010 Pramod Gupta, a Constituent Assembly (CA) member of Nepal, threatened journalists of thrashing in the capital city Kathmandu on August 5. Gupta represents the Madhesi Peoples' Right Forum (Democratic), the fourth largest party of CA in Nepal.
The news report stating his secret meeting with Unified Communist Party of Nepal--Maoist (UCPN-Maoist) was published and broadcasted on the day as a course of new government formation process in Nepal. Denying the news report regarding his meeting with Maoist leaders he blamed journalists of writing baseless news. He further warned journalists of thrashing near future. "They (Journalists) will know everything after getting punches", today's edition of Kantipur daily has stated. He, however, did not tell the name of journalists whom he was going to beat. Earlier, his party's youth leaders had protested in front of the venue where he was holding meeting with Maoist leaders. Freedom Forum strongly denounces the incidents. Threatening journalists from a responsible person is nothing more than the violation of rule of law. The Forum urges the party leadership to take immediate action against CA member Gupta. The Forum further asks the CA member Gupta to adhere to the press freedom and not to repeat such guilty in the days to come.
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Freedom Forum
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