Broadcast of President’s interview postponed

KATHMANDU: AP1 HD Television has taken down an interview of President Bidya Devi Bhandari scheduled to go on air at 9 pm on Friday.

The Nepali edition of Himal Press had published news about the interview on Friday evening, few hours before the interview was scheduled to go on air.

Tikaram Yatri, the editor-in-chief of AP1 Television, who took the interview, posted a message on his social media page that the broadcast of the interview has been postponed to a later date.

“As soon we aired the ‘promo’ of the interview, the Election Commission and the top leaders of various political parties expressed concern on the matter and we received suggestions that it would not be desirable to air the interview of the President during the ‘silent period’ of the election, we have decided to postpone the broadcast to Sunday night,” Yatri’s post on his Facebook page states.

Dr Bhesh Raj Adhikari, Principal Personal Secretary of the President, told Himal Press that he received phone calls from different individuals and agencies suggesting that the interview should not be broadcast during the silent period.

The Election Commission is holding the election for the House of Representatives and seven province assemblies on Sunday.

A source told Himal Press the broadcast was postponed to a later date as per the wish of the President. The source further added that the decision was taken following discussions between officials of the Election Commission, the President’s Office, and the government.