A video went viral on social media on Thursday evening. In which a group of people is seen surrounding Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle, making it difficult for him to walk. At first glance, it is difficult to identify the minister. If you look closely, nine people carrying cameras, microphones, and mobile phones are seen there. Wagle is struggling to get out of the crowd with quick steps, but he is asked a question,

, ‘Everyone is looking for the Prime Minister.’ What is your opinion?’ Wagle replies, , ‘The proceedings of the House of Representatives are conducted according to its own rules. We are following the same process. ’ Then he enters through the Parliament gate. They rush back. This group regularly reaches the Federal Parliament building complex in Singha Durbar, records the activities there and uploads the videos on platforms like YouTube and Facebook. That same evening, another 2-minute and 38-second video

is posted from a Facebook page. In it, Shram Sanskriti Party President Harkaraj Rai is seen surrounded by a microphone and a boom. A person from the crowd asks , ‘What is happening now,

tell me?’ Rai replies , ‘Discussion.’ ’

The person repeats another question , ‘ Discussion... Look here , At the camera .

’ Rai looks at the camera once and then at the person and replies , ‘ Policy and programs are being discussed . ’  Meanwhile, , Another person brings the microphone forward from behind Rai’s chair . Feeling uncomfortable, Rai looks at the same person . Again, the other person asks , ‘ The Prime Minister is not coming, is he? We have already received the information . ’ A confused Rai says , ‘ Yes and ? Should he come  . ’ The video clearly shows the questions being repeated from all sides and Rai being stunned .  

Recently, such scenes have become common in the Parliament building premises . Let’s look at the questions asked to Speaker Rai , ‘ Look here ’, ‘ Will the Prime Minister come or not ?’, ‘ You were very enthusiastic yesterday , Why are you so lazy today ?’ Rai, who looks confused by such questions, barely escapes the crowd and gets into his car . Even while getting into the car, he is asked similar questions .   Parliamentary Affairs Journalists Society President Manoj Satyal says that this trend has put mainstream journalists who have been covering parliamentary affairs for a long time in an awkward position .   ‘

The entry of content creators who ignore editorial discretion has become a big challenge in recent times. They post whatever they see

, immediately,’ Satyal told Kantipur , ‘ This devalues ​​real journalists and may lead the Parliament Secretariat to block media access in the future. ’ The number of content creators in Nepal has increased. Easy internet access and cheap technology have turned content production into an economy. On May 13 (Wednesday) at 3:25 pm, MP Indira Rana Magar was surrounded and questioned. Even when she said she was physically unwell, the crowd did not leave her. ‘ Hey brother! I am walking here sick or not , Don't tell the deputy leader . I have been walking here without eating since morning .

’ Despite saying this, they did not leave Rana Magar .

  MPs Shraddha Kunwar and KP Khanal have also fallen victim to such questions . A video and photo of them sitting together at a training program of the National Independent Party (RSP) held on April 26 and 27 went viral . YouTubers asked them unnecessary questions outside the parliament regarding the same photo .   In a 1-minute and 2-second video posted on another Facebook page  on Thursday afternoon, MP Khanal is seen surrounded by a crowd . He says , ‘ My car has arrived , I am going .

’

But , A man with a boom comes close and asks , ‘ Can you give a short comment about the photo ?’ He replies , ‘

The photo may have been edited ,’

and quickly closes his car door .   On the same day at 4:18 pm, they also ask Shraddha , ‘ Your photo is now viral on social media. Do you have anything to say about it ?’ She says hurriedly , ‘ I have a job coming up right now, Can we talk now please .’ MP Kunwar said that she felt harassed by such questions being asked of her . ‘ What was discussed in the House , Instead of asking what the policies and programs are or what your opinion is on the budget, the media comes with a microphone and says ‘ Your photo is viral , How are you feeling ?’

 . How relevant is it to stick a microphone in someone’s chest ?’ She told Kantipur , ‘ Entering someone’s personal life and chasing views and virality is harmful to both the family and society . ’  Earlier, MP Krantishikha Dhital had expressed her anger on Facebook on April 11 after being asked personally targeted questions.

‘ I have seen a tendency to start conversations with young female MPs by commenting that you look beautiful , You are very well dressed . While this may sound personal, structurally it keeps women away from the main topic and confines them to the cover ,’ she wrote , ‘ The mic you are holding is for thoughts , not for aesthetic evaluation . There are other platforms for that . Be aware and responsible about how and where to ask questions . ’  She told Kantipur that after writing this status, such questions have decreased a lot . ‘ Nowadays, they say you can’t even ask questions . But I don’t mean to say that you can’t ask questions ,’ she says

, ‘ My only demand is that only thematic and dignified questions be asked . ’  Another MP from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh said that the personal and unnecessary questions coming from the crowd have caused mental stress to the MPs . ‘ We go to Parliament to speak on national issues , but we are afraid that someone will stop us or hurt us on the way . Even if we don’t speak, the crowd gets views , Even if we speak, they get views ,’ the MP said .   According to Satyal, this practice of besieging MPs and ministers and barraging them with unnecessary questions has overshadowed important parliamentary issues .

‘ There is an increasing trend of making content of MPs getting out of vehicles , walking , talking or general discussions with cheap captions ,’ he says

, ‘ Earlier, journalists used to focus on policies and issues ; Now, even ordinary and small activities have started becoming content . ’  Some MPs themselves are fueling this problem . Many have been prioritizing social media and YouTubers to avoid the scrutiny of mainstream media . ‘ Some MPs even bring content creators into the parliament building in their own vehicles . Some political leaders prefer social media to spread one-sided messages to avoid objective criticism ,’ Satyal said .

  MP Dhital also admits that some MPs enjoy cheap popularity and content . ‘ It is clear that some MPs are enjoying views and attention . Instead of serious debate, they are happy when their appearance or attire is praised . Even if journalists are blamed, this culture is prevalent at the leadership level ,’ she told Kantipur .   MP Dhital stressed that both journalists and MPs should behave responsibly to correct this distortion. ‘ Both sides should be aware. Asking questions is the right of journalists, but they should be aware and responsible about which questions to ask, , when and how to ask them. The race for views and TRPs should be stopped immediately. ’ Journalist and associate professor Jagat Nepal, who has been reporting on parliamentary affairs for a long time, does not consider this to be dignified journalism. ‘There are more content creators in Parliament than the established media. It seems that they ask personal questions, surround, harass (abuse) and create AI-generated content,’ he said. ‘Humiliating MPs who harass and demoralize for viral views is an insult to the state and the people. Many people say that we are creating a new system rather than studying the parliamentary system. They don't even know what it was before or how it came about.'

MP Kunwar also suggests that the new generation reporting for digital content should learn from senior journalists. ' Just as seniors guide juniors in the classroom, , similarly responsible media houses should teach new friends about proper journalism, ,' she said.   

Satyal suggests that the Parliament Secretariat should issue only temporary or six-month trial passes instead of giving permanent passes to content creators who work only for social media or YouTube. ‘ Before granting entry, the secretariat should provide mandatory training on the principles of journalism , parliamentary conduct and reporting rules ,’

he said , ‘ Like the British Parliament, Nepal should also designate a separate ‘ press zone ’ for cameras and interviews so that MPs are not inconvenienced or unnecessarily blocked while walking. ’

Even media operator Dani admits that there is a problem with the method adopted by YouTubers in the name of asking questions to MPs and ministers. ‘I have felt that the method of asking questions is not right not just once, but many times. Yes, sometimes it is not right, but even if the method is not right, the question cannot be stopped,’ he says.