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The journalists of the Dharan Cub-metropolitan city, staged a silent rally on May 14, 2023, as a protest against Harkaraj Sampang Rai’s repeated interference with the press and freedom of expression and verbal abuse against journalists.

Janakrishi Rai, Chairperson of the Sunsari Branch of the Federation of Journalists, said that the journalists are insecure due to the anti-journalist and media statements made by Mayor Rai on social media. As a response to Rai’s attack, they staged a silent rally against him. They carried placards with slogans like ‘Respect the freedom of the press, ‘ Are you a ruler or people’s representative?’, ‘Let them speak and write freely’ and ‘Protect the freedom of the press’.

The procession reached the gate of the Municipality, where the journalist covered their mouth as a symbolic protest.

Sunsari Branch of the Nepal Journalist Association submitted a memorandum to the Chief District Officer Humkala Pandey through the District Administration Office on May 12, 2023, demanding the Home Minister to provide security for media persons and journalists.

Janakrishi Rai, the president of the Federation, said that the first stage of the movement would end after interacting with the former mayors of the Dharan Sub-metropolitan City on May 6.

Mayor Rai said that the journalists have prioritized the wrong issues without encouraging the good things they have done.

Amar Khadka, a Central Member of the Nepal Journalist Federation, said journalists are human rights defenders, and a people’s representative is limiting the scope and identity of human rights defenders.

The 1998 Declaration on Human Rights Defenders defines journalists as human rights defenders.

Jay Krishna Yadav