Feb 5, Kathmandu:  Kantipur Dainik Publisher  Kailash Sirohia has opened his mouth on the allegations leveled by Rashtriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Chairman Rabi Lamichhane. Sirohia responded to Lamichhane by issuing a press release today.

Lamichhane made personal accusations against Sirohia and institutional accusations against Kantipur Dainik, which he founded. Sirohia has denied all the allegations. He is accused of trying to change or influence the issue of the dual passport-related cases being done by the police against him.

Sirohia has expressed his regret that Lamichhane has used baseless slanders against the entire Nepali media world and media workers."He has tried to attack the reputation and credibility of the entire Nepali media in order to cover up his mistakes and weaknesses or to prevent the news from coming out, that will not be tolerated by us free press and those who support democracy," he wrote.

The full text of Sirohia's statement:

First of all, I express my regret that Ravi Lamichhaneji, the president of the National Independent Party, held a press conference on Sunday and used baseless slanders against the entire Nepali media world and media workers. He may have vented his anger on the fact that the respected Supreme Court found him guilty in the citizenship case and dismissed him from office or that he was not able to become the Home Minister again as a non-MP. Or maybe you wanted to change the subject and influence the issue of dual passports that the police is investigating. Whatever the reasons, he has tried to cover up his mistakes and weaknesses or to prevent the news about it from coming to the attention of Nepali media in a well-planned manner, which will not be tolerated by us free press and democracy advocates.

In order to confirm the way Lamichhane tried to defame me personally, my family members, and the Kantipur Media Group of which I am the chairman, in the same press conference, I would like to give him the following challenges.

1) Kantipur printed news about Chandragiri cable car according to its professional religion. I have a serious objection to the way Lamichhane has falsely accused me of taking a share in Chandragiri by using that as an excuse, and the way he has humiliated me by saying, "Doesn't he know who he ate at Chandragiri Hills?" Whether he knows or not - Chandragiri Hills is a public limited company, in which how many shares are held by whom from the beginning till now, it can be easily checked by the relevant government office. Neither I nor any member of my family ever had a share in Chandragiri. I strongly object to Lamichhane making false accusations.

2) Lamichhane has also exaggerated the issue of the car accident in which my son was riding Sirohia in Maitighar Mandla on Saturday morning, December 15, 2015 AD, as if there was a big 'scandal', which was forcibly hidden! As described by Lamichhane, the car involved in the accident did not hit any person walking on the road, nor did it hit any other vehicle.

The only car he was riding in there was unfortunately involved in an accident, a relative in the car was slightly injured, and he was treated for a while at the nearby Narvik Hospital. No one had hidden it, there was no reason to hide it. On the contrary, it was immediately possible that the traffic police at Baggikhana were formally informed about the incident. We wonder why a person who has been the home minister has spread confusion by saying that the incident in the police record was tried to be hidden. Who gave you the right to harm your personal reputation by speaking such untruths?

3) On August 27, 2020, after an attempt was made to assassinate my character by a Facebook account named 'Sidha Kura', by linking me to the fake incident of someone abusing a woman at the Solti Hotel, I posted a tweet refuting it. In that, I also mentioned that I had lodged a complaint with the police to take strict legal action against those spreading such misinformation.

Lamichhane linked me again to the same fictitious incident of abuse and said, 'No one knows where and when Sirohia filed the complaint as stated in that tweet.' On August 11, 2077, we filed a complaint with the Metropolitan Police Crime Division. Solti Hotel also issued a statement stating that room number 928 mentioned in that fanciful propaganda is not available in its hotel.

And, the person who published false content through 'Sidha Kura' also filed a complaint with the Metropolitan Police Crime Division saying that the person who published the false content through 'Sidha Kura' should be immediately arrested and investigated for the offense of Section 47 of the Electronic Transactions Act-2006 AD. While this is true, is it possible to spread misleading rumors saying that a person who has been the Home Minister did not file a complaint in that incident?

4) Lamichhane also raised a question about my investment in Himalayan Reinsurance Limited by saying that 'someone opened insurance, he should be paid'. I saw inquiries about that on social networks. A few years ago, when that company was established, I, as a businessman, bought its promoter shares worth 10 million rupees. I did not buy it under anyone's eyes, I bought it myself with the legitimate amount of tax paid to the government.

I did not buy it under anyone's eyes, I bought it myself with the legitimate amount of tax paid to the government. I bought that share in a transparent manner by withdrawing funds from my accounts in Kumari Bank and Nepal Investment Bank, using the same checks. How-how-how many reasons did it become illegal? Am I not allowed to do any commercial business?

5) Rabi Lamichhane, citing the baseless allegation made against me by businessman Ajeya Sumargi that he had taken a 'golden share' at one time, made an objectionable allegation saying that 'this is such a golden share, which should be given to Kailash Sirohia, a publisher of Kantipur, for a few percentage points while running a big business'.

First of all, it is in public knowledge that the honorable Kathmandu District Court has already decided in our favor in the case with Sumargi. Second thing, can you prove that I took such a so-called 'golden share' from somewhere, as Lamichhane said whatever came to his mouth? I would like to challenge him - can you show that I and any member of my family have taken even one share anywhere without legitimate sources, without paying government tax?

And he has also made very negative propaganda about us by saying, 'If you run Kantipur, it will kill, demolish, and fix it'. We have been fighting not to overthrow anyone, but to establish democratic values and the rule of law.

It is true that Kantipur Media House fought - yesterday by becoming the mouthpiece of the people's movement against the autocratic monarchy, by becoming the conductor of good governance against the then head of the Authority Lokmansingh Karki and by being ready to go to jail against the then Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Gopal Parajuli. Kantipur, which was not afraid of anyone's arrogance yesterday, will continue to stand up to its professional responsibilities today and tomorrow.

Finally,

Ravi Lamichhane has given a public warning that if the news is written about him now, he will "come to surround the office" of Kantipur and other media houses with his supporters and "take action in his own way". Is this not an open threat to the free press? Shouldn't the state agencies take action against him as an act of taking the existing law into their hands?

Should we consider Lamichhane's threat as his private opinion or the official policy of the National Independent Party? Shouldn't the other leaders and MPs of the said party express their views on this? Otherwise, we have to accept it as their party's opinion. I would like to put it on public record - as threatened by Lamichhane, if there is any kind of physical attack on any of our journalists or employees or offices, he and his party will have to take responsibility for it.

The news written by Kantipur has established facts from Nepal's constitution, laws, and the constitutional bench of the Supreme Court. What are the grounds for the objection made by Rabi Lamichhane? I have put my things here clearly and transparently before the readers and well-wishers. Can Ravi Lamichhane also give true answers to all the questions raised on him regarding citizenship, dual passport, and dual nationality?