Gangtok:Shree Bijay Bantawa, Editor of Himgiri Nepali in a statement releashed on paper website has lodged his protest on allegations circulated by some members of Sikkim Press Council on his linkage with party of Government of day which he terms as baseless and mischievous and as "Allegation leveled by vested interest is condemned, conspiracy to tarnish the image of non-controversial senior journalist".
Statement is reproduced below:
"In a section of politically motivated newspapers, Bijay Bantawa, Sr. Journalist and writer has been alleged to have been involved or become the person of the ruling party. It is refuted in strongest word that in my 25 years of career, I, Bijay Bantawa, has never been the member or person (in their term) of any political party. To highlight the government achievement and noble objective of any leader for the interest of general public is also the duty of journalist and by doing so, any journalist cannot be termed as the member of any political party. But it mounts to violation of universally accepted journalistic ethics, if a journalist himself directly involve in politics and claim or act as an impartial journalist. Such a newspaper has no impact and recognition in public.
It is clearly their mischievous outburst and frustration that whoever comes in their way, they drag in mudslinging. It is a conspiracy to tarnish the image of a non-controversial senior journalist in the wake of election of Press Club of Sikkim. The resolution proposed by the legal advisor, Bijay Bantawa of outgoing committee of PCS is adopted in general meeting and unanimously passed and the representative of the particular news paper organization too did not object it including senior journalist of the national newspapers. It was resolved not to cancel or debar any member from being the member of the Club but the membership was only categorized as per the provision of the constitution of the club and the persons who are making hue and cry are also included as associate member of the club. The resolution is necessitated in order to protect the non-political entity of the club. All the members may have their different political ideologies, but not political affiliation directly by means of membership or direct involvement with any political party. There are tens and thousands of working journalists in the country who have their different political ideologies and there may be some member of political parties working in the media, but their role is limited. The general public and conscious readers find lot of difference in them. Of course, everybody is influenced by political parties and its system, but like judiciary, press is an independent and impartial organ. How a politician can be impartial in discharging his duty as a journalist too at the same time? It is just like a proverb in Nepali, Afai bokshi, Afai jhakri or literally meaning, he who creates the problem, knows the solution and takes the credit of solution. One pertinent question raised by such vested interest is that where there is law that a politician cannot a be an editor and publisher? Yes, he can do so provided for his party's bulletin and mouth piece or he can even bring out newspapers as there is no such law to bar him, but he cannot claim it as an independent newspaper and misguide the readers if his reporting is influenced by his political work. Some persons can act so too duly taking the advantage of the non-existence of law and act, but the fact in law is that where there is no law, law of equity shall prevail and equity shall not defeat because of its shortcoming. Likewise, where there is no law but one indulges in unethical or immoral act, it cannot be called legal or ethical act anyway.
A wise person, therefore will not bite the mad dog even if it bites and injures him. Rather, he will wisely tackle the situation for the interest of not only a section of people, but for the whole universe. Truth shall prevail any way. One must be patient to wait and watch."
It is clearly their mischievous outburst and frustration that whoever comes in their way, they drag in mudslinging. It is a conspiracy to tarnish the image of a non-controversial senior journalist in the wake of election of Press Club of Sikkim. The resolution proposed by the legal advisor, Bijay Bantawa of outgoing committee of PCS is adopted in general meeting and unanimously passed and the representative of the particular news paper organization too did not object it including senior journalist of the national newspapers. It was resolved not to cancel or debar any member from being the member of the Club but the membership was only categorized as per the provision of the constitution of the club and the persons who are making hue and cry are also included as associate member of the club. The resolution is necessitated in order to protect the non-political entity of the club. All the members may have their different political ideologies, but not political affiliation directly by means of membership or direct involvement with any political party. There are tens and thousands of working journalists in the country who have their different political ideologies and there may be some member of political parties working in the media, but their role is limited. The general public and conscious readers find lot of difference in them. Of course, everybody is influenced by political parties and its system, but like judiciary, press is an independent and impartial organ. How a politician can be impartial in discharging his duty as a journalist too at the same time? It is just like a proverb in Nepali, Afai bokshi, Afai jhakri or literally meaning, he who creates the problem, knows the solution and takes the credit of solution. One pertinent question raised by such vested interest is that where there is law that a politician cannot a be an editor and publisher? Yes, he can do so provided for his party's bulletin and mouth piece or he can even bring out newspapers as there is no such law to bar him, but he cannot claim it as an independent newspaper and misguide the readers if his reporting is influenced by his political work. Some persons can act so too duly taking the advantage of the non-existence of law and act, but the fact in law is that where there is no law, law of equity shall prevail and equity shall not defeat because of its shortcoming. Likewise, where there is no law but one indulges in unethical or immoral act, it cannot be called legal or ethical act anyway.
A wise person, therefore will not bite the mad dog even if it bites and injures him. Rather, he will wisely tackle the situation for the interest of not only a section of people, but for the whole universe. Truth shall prevail any way. One must be patient to wait and watch."
