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In a session filled with drama and revelations yesterday, nearly 20 DPT ministers and MPs criticised and rebuked Opposition leader Tshering Tobgay for his observations today on the Lyonchhoen’s state of the nation address last Friday and the government’s handling of media freedom.
The MPs and ministers collectively reiterated and defended their previous stand on the ban of live BBS broadcast of the National Assembly discussion of bills, stating that it was a “majority” decision, and their thumping of the press, stating that it was needed. They also justified the constituency development grant (CDG), stating that they did not break any Constitution rule.
Opposition leader Tshering Tobgay had said: “The prime minister’s address, besides not making clear the differences between the 9th and 10th plans, had also not said how much work was actually done in the 10th plan.”
Source: Kuenselonline
He gave examples of feeder roads, highway and hospitals, whose work were there in the 9th plan, or even in the eighth plan, but which were listed in the Lyonchhoen’s address of DPT achievements. He also expressed doubts over the speed of implementation of the 10th plan and urged government to move faster.
The opposition leader also criticised the government for lambasting the press in the Lyonchhoen’s state of the nation address.
“The media has their freedom and knows their responsibilities and the government doesn’t have to continuously tell the media what is right or wrong and what to do or not do,” he said. He said this would lead to a scared and weaker media, since all the advertisement money came mainly from the government.
“Our country won’t get the media it deserves and this will affect the freedom of the media,” he said. “By not allowing live broadcast of the assembly session, it’s an infringement of media freedom and also goes against the principles of democracy,” said Tshering Tobgay.
Criticising CDG he said, “One of the causes of poverty is the lack of budget in the gewogs and so MPs shouldn’t come between the gewogs and their money.” He also questioned the constitutionality of CDG and said that he had not received any response from the government on his questions over the issue.
He said another major reason for poverty was unemployment, which was created by a weak private sector and falling standards of education. He also said that social problems like drugs and prostitution were created because of unemployed youth.
Criticising Lyonchhen’s stand on the constitution, he said, “The Constitution is a sacred do*****ent but that does not mean we keep it in a choesum (altar), but that we have to keep looking at it, discuss it, and be guided by it.” He said that the Constitution was an important handbook and the government should respect it.
In response to the Opposition Leader’s criticisms, Punakha MP Tshering Penjor sharply rebuked the Opposition leader, saying that he had “no discipline” by bringing up issues like CDG, which, he said, was already resolved. He also said that the media was not stopped from working, adding that the media was more concerned about entertainment.
Wangduephodrang MP Pasang Thrinlee accused Tshering Tobgay of bringing up “useless” issues and discussions. Lyonpo Yeshey Zimba said: “The new government has done many important works for which we should be grateful instead of just attacking only.” He also said that the government was implementing the works be it the 9th plan leftover or the 10th plan.
Lyonpo Khandu Wangchuk said that support was being given to industries and tourism. He also said that India had allotted an additional Nu 7b for the local government in addition to the current funds.
“The danger with the media is that some of them are commercial entities and may be guided by commercial interests over that of the people and nation,” he said.
He also said that live broadcast issue was resolved by a majority, which had to be respected.
Lyonpo Nandlal Rai said: “The media is not outside the country and shouldn’t just keep attacking the government.” MP Rinchen Dorji from Trongsa said: “This Saturday there was a Kuensel story saying that MPs will misappropriate CDG, but if we were against the media then this reporter would be thrown in prison.”
Kuensel said or wrote no such thing. There was no CDG story on this or last Saturday issues and no MP can willfully throw a reporter in prison, said Kuensel’s editor, adding that the MP should do his homework before attacking a newspaper for things it had not written about.
Opposition MP Damcho Dorji also questioned the Speaker’s statement not to discuss resolved issues outside the Assembly, by citing the Constitution’s fundamental right of freedom to expression and responsibility to represent the public’s view.
Source: Kuenselonline
The MPs and ministers collectively reiterated and defended their previous stand on the ban of live BBS broadcast of the National Assembly discussion of bills, stating that it was a “majority” decision, and their thumping of the press, stating that it was needed. They also justified the constituency development grant (CDG), stating that they did not break any Constitution rule.
Opposition leader Tshering Tobgay had said: “The prime minister’s address, besides not making clear the differences between the 9th and 10th plans, had also not said how much work was actually done in the 10th plan.”
Source: Kuenselonline
He gave examples of feeder roads, highway and hospitals, whose work were there in the 9th plan, or even in the eighth plan, but which were listed in the Lyonchhoen’s address of DPT achievements. He also expressed doubts over the speed of implementation of the 10th plan and urged government to move faster.
The opposition leader also criticised the government for lambasting the press in the Lyonchhoen’s state of the nation address.
“The media has their freedom and knows their responsibilities and the government doesn’t have to continuously tell the media what is right or wrong and what to do or not do,” he said. He said this would lead to a scared and weaker media, since all the advertisement money came mainly from the government.
“Our country won’t get the media it deserves and this will affect the freedom of the media,” he said. “By not allowing live broadcast of the assembly session, it’s an infringement of media freedom and also goes against the principles of democracy,” said Tshering Tobgay.
Criticising CDG he said, “One of the causes of poverty is the lack of budget in the gewogs and so MPs shouldn’t come between the gewogs and their money.” He also questioned the constitutionality of CDG and said that he had not received any response from the government on his questions over the issue.
He said another major reason for poverty was unemployment, which was created by a weak private sector and falling standards of education. He also said that social problems like drugs and prostitution were created because of unemployed youth.
Criticising Lyonchhen’s stand on the constitution, he said, “The Constitution is a sacred do*****ent but that does not mean we keep it in a choesum (altar), but that we have to keep looking at it, discuss it, and be guided by it.” He said that the Constitution was an important handbook and the government should respect it.
In response to the Opposition Leader’s criticisms, Punakha MP Tshering Penjor sharply rebuked the Opposition leader, saying that he had “no discipline” by bringing up issues like CDG, which, he said, was already resolved. He also said that the media was not stopped from working, adding that the media was more concerned about entertainment.
Wangduephodrang MP Pasang Thrinlee accused Tshering Tobgay of bringing up “useless” issues and discussions. Lyonpo Yeshey Zimba said: “The new government has done many important works for which we should be grateful instead of just attacking only.” He also said that the government was implementing the works be it the 9th plan leftover or the 10th plan.
Lyonpo Khandu Wangchuk said that support was being given to industries and tourism. He also said that India had allotted an additional Nu 7b for the local government in addition to the current funds.
“The danger with the media is that some of them are commercial entities and may be guided by commercial interests over that of the people and nation,” he said.
He also said that live broadcast issue was resolved by a majority, which had to be respected.
Lyonpo Nandlal Rai said: “The media is not outside the country and shouldn’t just keep attacking the government.” MP Rinchen Dorji from Trongsa said: “This Saturday there was a Kuensel story saying that MPs will misappropriate CDG, but if we were against the media then this reporter would be thrown in prison.”
Kuensel said or wrote no such thing. There was no CDG story on this or last Saturday issues and no MP can willfully throw a reporter in prison, said Kuensel’s editor, adding that the MP should do his homework before attacking a newspaper for things it had not written about.
Opposition MP Damcho Dorji also questioned the Speaker’s statement not to discuss resolved issues outside the Assembly, by citing the Constitution’s fundamental right of freedom to expression and responsibility to represent the public’s view.
Source: Kuenselonline
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