President Bidhya Devi Bhandari has said that no person or institution can curb press freedom guaranteed by Nepal’s constitution. She, however, remarked that the dignity of journalists will be maintained if they abide by the code of conduct.

Inaugurating the annual general meeting of the Federation of Nepali Journalists central committee in Ratnanagar, Chitwan, on Tuesday, the head of state said that independent press should be responsible while performing its professional works.

She noted that there had been a significant development in journalism, both quantitative and qualitative, in Nepal in the past few years.

On the occasion, President Bhandari conferred Kantipur cartoonist Durga Baral ‘Batsyayan’ with Krishna Prasad Bhattarai National Journalism Award. The Kathmandu Post’s Kalikot correspondent Tularam Pandey and Tikapur-based Post scribe Ganesh Ghaudhary were presented with the Gauri Kathayat Memorial Journalism Award and the Uma Singh National Journalism Award, respectively. Kantipur journalist Chet Bahadur Singh got the Press Swatantrata Senani award. Shanta Adhikari was honoured with the Maiya Devi National Journalism Award. Ten other journalists were also felicitated on the occasion.

The Chitwan chapter was adjudged as the best FNJ branch while Ujjyalo 90 Network’s contribution was also recognised. About 1,600 representatives from across the country are attending the two-day event.