KATHMANDU: The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has strongly condemned the suspicious parking and abandonment of unidentified vehicles outside major media houses in Kathmandu, issuing an official statement following allegations that its own leaders and cadres were involved in orchestrating the blockades.

The statement, issued by RSP General Secretary Bipin Kumar Acharya on Monday, noted that the party’s serious attention was drawn to news reports regarding the vehicle blockades.

Addressing the escalating situation and the allegations pointing toward its members, the party described these mysterious activities as a blatant attempt to create psychological pressure on journalists and obstruct the free operation of the mass media, which stands as the fourth organ of the state.

“Activities aimed at infringing upon the freedom of communication, creating an atmosphere of fear in media houses, and shrinking the fourth pillar under any pretext are absolutely unacceptable to the Rastriya Swatantra Party,” the press release stated.

As a political entity built on the foundation of the rule of law and democratic principles, the RSP emphasized that independent and fearless journalism is the lifeblood of democracy.

Pushing back against accusations linking its cadres to the coordinated obstruction, the party has formally urged the Government of Nepal, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and relevant security agencies to launch an immediate, impartial, and factual investigation into the incidents.

The RSP demanded that authorities guarantee both the physical and psychological security of all media establishments and swiftly identify and prosecute the individuals responsible for these suspicious operations, regardless of their affiliations.

Concluding the statement, the RSP appealed to the media community to continue fulfilling its professional duties based on facts without succumbing to any pressure or intimidation, reiterating its unwavering commitment to standing firmly in defense of complete press freedom.