Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) has condemned Communication Minister Gokul Prasad Banskota for his prejudiced views on private media.

Slamming the Communication Ministry’s statement made on September 2 that urged all government entities to prioritise the state-run media while distributing information and selling

advertisements, FNJ in a press statement on Friday demanded the government to withdraw the ministry’s statement. “FNJ believes that such a statement from the ministry is an attack on the country’s press freedom, and is meant to control the flow of information and advertisements to private media,” FNJ Secretary General Ramesh Bista said in the statement.

At the parliamentary committee meeting on Thursday, Minister Banskota said he would give money to those reporters who have written “unnecessary things” about him.

“All the reporters who have written baseless news about me and blamed me of corruption, I will give you as

much money as you want,” Banskota said.The umbrella organisation of the journalists has also condemned Banskota for making unethical remarks against the journalists.

“The organisation strongly condemns the minister’s statement on journalists,” Bista said.