DOTI, Aug 29: Federation of Nepali Journalists, Doti chapter gifted a broken radio set to Minister of Communication and Technology Gokul Baskota and Executive Director of Radio Nepal Suresh Kumar Karki.

According to FNJ chapter chair Yogendra Balayar, the broken radio set was dispatched to the minister and the executive director as part of their protests against the government's unwarranted political interference on Radio Nepal's regional office in Dipayal.

“The government is ruining a pioneer and prestigious state-owned media institution thorough political interference. Baskota and Karki are to be blamed for this,” Balayar argued.

The radio set was gifted to Minister Baskota and ED Karki through Boyalal Chaudhary, the chief at Radio Nepal's Regional Transmission Centre based in Dipayal. After receiving the broken radio, Chaudhary vowed to deliver it to the intended authority.  

Federation of Nepali Journalists, Doti has taken to the street since August 20 following the expulsion of three staffers namely Sunita Rawal, Prakash Bam and Chakra Kunwar affiliated with Radio Nepal’s regional office in Dipayal.

"The expulsion of three radio staffers was purely a political attack on the press," the FNJ stated.

The FNJ chapter has accused the government of meddling in the radio's regional branch.