Nepal Press Council objects to Indian Media smearing campaign

KATHMANDU, July 16, 2020: Nepal Press Council chairman Kishor Shrestha expressed his concern at certain Indian media reports against Nepal.

In a letter to Justice Chandramauli Kumar Prasad, Chairman of Press Council of India, Shrestha appreciated the work of Press Council of India role in bringing together the media and press councils of South Asia, establishing SAAPC and utilizing resources for the common goal of maintaining the principles of ethical journalism.

Unfortunately, he said, few television channels are engaged in unrelenting campaign against Nepal, its integrity and sovereignty. The smearing media campaign that started with disseminating fabricated news about Nepal’s historical decision to incorporate Umpiyadhura in its official political map, continues by offending Nepal’s prime minister KP Sharma Oli with framed hateful story; which we are confident you would consider a blemish in the name of journalism, the Nepal Press Council letter said.

The letter particularly objected to Zee News reports on certain comments about the Nepal PM’s alleged affairs. The fabricated video story produced and disseminated by Zee news of India and sensationalized on social media sites fantasized the alleged affair.

Shrestha opined that this story has escalated ongoing bilateral tensions among the people and governments of Nepal and India.

There are many baseless stories produced by Indian television channels that attack upon the integrity of Nepal. We trust you are worried to learn about these incidents and would facilitate reaching out to the media outlets or a concerned authority as it is pertinent for us to promote ethical journalism around,” the Nepal Press Council Chairman said.

Nepal Press Council requested the Press Council of India to remind concerned media outlets to stick on media ethics and expressed the confidence that Justice Prasad’s role will be instrumental finding way out to the crisis.