Kathmandu, June 12
The Nepalese Government has lifted the ban on Indian news channels, which was imposed after the February 1 royal takeover.
A Cabinet meeting last Wednesday decided to resume news channels Aaj Tak, Star News and Zee News among others, the Kantipur newspaper reported today.
As part of the restrictions imposed on the media after King Gyanendra seized power and declared a state of emergency, cable operators were barred from airing Indian news channels.
Though the decision was taken earlier in the week, the ban was lifted today.
“The government has lifted the ban on these news channels from today after more four months, so we have now switched on these channels,” an employee of Space Time Cable Network, a leading cable distributor, said.
Gyanendra stunned the world on February 1 when he fired the government, suspended civil liberties, cut off the Internet and telephone lines and barred cable operators from airing Indian news channels. International channels like the BBC and CNN were untouched.
The King justified the move saying that it was required to crush an anti-monarchy Maoist revolt in which 12,000 persons have died since 1996.
The latest move came days before King Gyanendra is scheduled to leave for Doha to participate at an international conference.
— PTI, Reuters
