State Power Misused for Revenge: Kailash Sirohiya

Kailash Sirohiya, Chairman of Kantipur Media Group, has declared that there is an orchestrated effort to seek revenge on him through the misuse of state power. This statement follows the issuance of an arrest warrant by the Dhanusha District Court.

The warrant, issued on Tuesday by Judge Chitra Bahadur Gurung, stems from allegations that Sirohiya holds two citizenship certificates. According to a well-placed police source, a complaint was filed at the District Police Office in Dhanusha, accusing Sirohiya of possessing duplicate citizenship certificates. The Dhanusha Police highlighted that the citizenship number associated with Sirohiya matches that of another individual, prompting the legal action.

In response, Sirohiya released a statement vehemently denying the allegations and condemning the warrant as an attempt to thwart Kantipur’s ongoing reporting on a significant cooperative fraud case. He emphasized that this is not the first instance of such retaliatory measures against Kantipur Media Group, referencing previous instances of state power abuse aimed at silencing the media.

“Kantipur Media Group will not be deterred by any retaliation and interference caused by the abuse of state power,” Sirohiya asserted. He underscored that the organization is steadfast in its commitment to editorial freedom and responsibility, despite facing challenges and interference in the past.

Sirohiya questioned the priorities of those in power, asking, “Is the responsibility of those with a public mandate to ensure the establishment of good governance or to cover up their wrongdoing and take personal revenge on the citizens and media who hold them accountable?”