Journalist Santosh Deuja said that although digital media journalists were neglected in the past, they are now coming forward effectively.
Political activists and activists have said that the problem has arisen because the public's complaints and questions have not been heard. They have said that they are raising the public's voices through social media.
Speaking at the ‘People’s Panel’ session of the Kantipur Conclave, Aam Janata Party leader and former journalist Rishi Dhamala said that he entered politics to serve the people.
‘I have seen the suffering of Rautahat, I left everything and became a candidate in Rautahat-4 to serve the poor people,’ he said, ‘I have done the work of the people, I have carried sugarcane, I have made it spicy.’ He said that he entered politics to end corruption in the country. ‘Everyone’s heart cries when I see the problems of Madhesh,’ he said.
He said that he has been in favor of democracy and press freedom since 2046. ‘It is easy to ask questions, it is difficult to work. That is why I entered politics to work,’ he added, ‘I ensured a safe landing of the Gen-G movement, I said let’s find a solution from the constitution.’
He also argued that he was following the ideas of Congress leader Pradeep Giri and argued that health and education should be made free. He added, "I did not come into politics by chance, I have experience of associating with leaders and I understand everything."
Medical practitioner and activist Durga Prasai said that he is campaigning to change the system because people are committing suicide due to lack of treatment. "Should I hang myself because I do not have money? This pains me," he said, "This system should be thrown away." He said that everyone has benefited from the recent decrease in interest rates since he stood against high interest rates. "When I fought against high interest rates, there was opposition, now it is 6 percent, who has benefited?" he said.
He said that Nepal's rulers have to flee by helicopter because international powers do not want them. "When foreign powers do not want them, they have to flee by helicopter," he even claimed that the real rule is monarchy. "Milk comes from cows and buffaloes. It cannot be obtained by eating the white pulp of a tree. That is why the people are looking for a king," he said.
He says he considers former King Gyanendra Shah as his guardian. ‘Children get angry with their guardians, that’s how it is,’ he said. Prasai said he has been in touch with all the leaders of the big parties and said that he started being called ‘Marsi’ after meeting Pushpa Kamal Dahal and UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli.
He claimed that he was targeted by the media after opening a medical college. ‘I opened a medical college in Mechi, all the media chased me, but I am a person who looks for positives in negatives,’ he said.
Rastriya Prajatantra Party leader Khusbu Oli said that he can survive only on the political ground. ‘You can make yourself popular by investing in social media for a short while, and choosing a leader based on this is a very dangerous thing,’ she said. ‘In this day and age, we look at trends and trends but don’t even question the person, their personality, or their ideas. We don’t even seek accountability from that leader, and we only ask for votes through social media.’
She said that she has started creating debates of ideas through social media. ‘The main basis of politics is ideas. I have been giving the party’s ideas on social media,’ she said. ‘When democratic institutions are weak, social media is strong. Social media has brought a wave of ideas.’
She said that there is a tendency to choose ‘populist’ leaders through social media. She said that she was a candidate in the last general election to strengthen women’s self-confidence. ‘The reason I became a candidate in the last election was to give confidence that women can also be leaders,’ she said. ‘I contested the last election independently against the party.’
Journalist Santosh Deuja said that he did media work to serve society. ‘Change the way you look at us. What did I miss when I found the mother of a ten-year-old child?’ He said, ‘Mainstream media should speak for the people rather than the leaders, be people-oriented.’ He said that he would support anyone who does good work. ‘What’s wrong with supporting people who do good work? People who do good work are liked,’ he said.
He says that although digital media journalists were ignored in the past, they are now coming forward effectively. ‘Earlier, we were ignored as YouTubers, now they are coming forward effectively,’ he said.
