The main opposition party Congress has objected to the arrest of Kantipur Media Group Chairman Kailash Sirohia under the guise of power. The Congress said that the arrest of President Sirohia is not only an attack on the press but also an attack on democracy and democracy.

Congress president Sher Bahadur Deuba said arresting president Sirohia in a vindictive manner was an undemocratic move by the government. "This decision of the coalition government with the aim of appeasing the media is regrettable," he said.

Senior Congress leader Shekhar Koirala also said that the arrest of Sirohia as revenge was not acceptable. Koirala said, "The arrest of Kailash Sirohia, the president of Kantipur Media Group, who has stood as a watchdog of information and democracy for 3 decades, is not acceptable to us," says Koirala.

Congress General Minister Gagan Thapa said that Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Ravi Lamichhane arrested Sirohia to cover up his crime. General Minister Thapa commented that even though President Sirohia was arrested because he had done something against the law, it was just an excuse to carry out revenge in a disgraceful manner. I am clear, no one is above the law and should not be. If he has made a mistake, whoever he is at any level, no matter how powerful he is, should be a partner in the punishment. I am also clear on this," said Thapa, "Today, the president of Kantipur Media Group, Kailash Sirohia, has been arrested for doing something against the law, but this is just an excuse to carry out revenge in a disgraceful manner. The main thing is that this state is misusing the access to power to stop those who question him, divert the topic and cover up his crimes.'' '

Another General Minister Vishwa Prakash Sharma has challenged to open the file of the Home Minister's passport, which has been put on hold saying that 'the case should not be prosecuted'. He wrote on social media, "Don't release Sirohia 'graciously'." Investigate with ease, send to jail if found guilty. Open all the doors of fair investigation on all the accusations against everyone! Open the file of the passport of the Home Minister, which has been kept as 'not to be prosecuted'. Confirm that there is no bias on the 'cooperative fraud news series'!' 

Kantipur Media Group Chairman Kailash Sirohia and other Congress leaders attended the Kantipur headquarters to protest after the arrest warrant was issued.  Photo: Prakashchandra Timilsena/Kantipur

Chief Whip of the Congress Parliamentary Party, Ramesh Lekhtar, commented that the government is on the path of 'destroying wisdom'. He said that not only the Home Minister but the government itself is irresponsible, autocratic, biased, autocratic and vindictive. The things done by the government are undemocratic both inside and outside the parliament. The attack on the media house and its head, which has fought for democracy for a long time, is the undemocratic and shameless act of the government," said the writer, "Now the question is not only about the Home Minister. As soon as he was arrested, the Prime Minister called the Home Minister and asked him what he had done. However, the prime minister's silence on this confirms that it is the government's job," said the author.

Congress Joint General Minister Badri Pandey raised the incident in the parliament in a loud manner. Speaking in the House of Representatives, he said that the issue of arresting the media out of revenge cannot be accepted. After an arrest warrant was issued against Kantipur President Sirohia and the police arrived at the Kantipur office to arrest him, Pandey said that he suspected that he was biased after the news about him was published.

If any person has done something wrong by breaking the law, he should be brought to justice, that is the responsibility of the state. But today only 1 billion was taken as a loan from four cooperatives to Gorkha Media and at that time Ravi Lamichhane himself was the managing director, so there is no support for being detained as a request and bias," said Pandey. He said that Lamichhane has two citizenships and a passport that should not be forgotten. He said, "It is not acceptable if the question is tried to be suppressed by raising the question with prejudice. Congress, being a democratic party, will not tolerate this." We are with Kantipur. This is greed under the guise of power. It is an attack on democratic values ​​and freedom of the press," Saud said. Congress MP Rajendra Bajgain said, 'What is the Prime Minister trying to do by attacking Kantipur, which fought for democracy?' Similarly, MP Ramnath Adhikari also questioned the Prime Minister. "Why did you (Prime Minister) reach the place where you (Prime Minister) attacked Kantipur, who fought for democracy?" he said.

Member of Parliament Bir Bahadur Balayer said that the unity of all is necessary as it is an attack not only against Sirohia but against the entire democracy and the press.

MP Pratima Gautam took the arrest warrant against President Sirohia as an act to derail the facts exposed by Kantipur against co-operative fraud and to slander the media. "We are in favor of Kantipur for democracy and press freedom," she said.

MP Raju Thapa accused Home Minister Ravi Lamichhane of trying to bargain with the media and failing to do so, he took revenge. "The Home Minister should be arrested in the cooperative case," he said.

MP Chanda Choudhary said that the Home Minister took revenge against Kantipur after exposing the true news. "We are ready to fight against it on any front," she said.

MP Deepak Giri said that the contribution of Kantipur media for democracy and republic will always be remembered and the Home Minister has issued an arrest warrant to take revenge. The government is trying to spoil Kantipur. He said, "They are trying to provoke by filing a fake case, it is necessary to oppose and counter it," he said.

Member of Parliament Kusum Thapa Magar criticized the arrest for publishing fair news against co-operative fraud. "By showing Sirohia, the entire media is being tried," she said. Congress leader Gobind Pokharel said that the arrest warrant issued against Kailash Sirohia is a step against democracy. "Nothing should be done in retaliation," he said.

Member of Parliament Ramkrishna Yadav mentioned that Kantipur contributed significantly when democracy was attacked and said that all democrats are with Sirohia. MP Shyam Ghimire said that the arrest in the name of arrest warrant was tragic and an attack on democracy. He said that the Congress party will take this incident seriously. He says that Kantipur has contributed to democracy by conducting media in an impartial manner.

MP Nagina Yadav criticized the government for showing arrogance of power. She said, "When Ram went to fight, there was nothing, only the truth." In the end, truth won. Now Kailash Sirohia is also on the path of truth, there is no need to be afraid.