PM faces media, criticizes it (Media)

Thimphu, July 27: The Prime Minister Jigmi Y Thinley has criticised the media for not understanding the reasons behind the proposal for state funding of the two political parties during the NA session, and for not writing in favour of it.

PM was responding to media at his office in Thimphu on July 24 regarding the state funding of political parties, recruiting resigned civil servants, MPs being abroad instead of visiting their constituencies that were hit by windstorms in May, and joining WTO.

 The PM told journalists that his party DPT was in comfortable situation and there was no need of state funds. “PDP was desperate and why pay for a party that was dying? Did you ever try to find out why the government was in favour of it?” he said, adding that the PDP’s secretary and finance officer came to the party office and then he had asked them to write to him officially. PM also accused the media of blowing up the issue without analyzing the situation.

The prime minister also questioned why the media had not reported on the government remaining silent about the reemployment of PDP candidates.

On MPs not visiting constituencies that were hit by natural calamities, the prime minister said that the ministers could have done so and gained political mileage but that was not what they were after.

“The MPs not going there had to do with the fact that the National Assembly was in the process of discussing the constitution,” he said.

During the media session, the health minister Zangley Dukpa, also explained why he had to go to Geneva during such a time when people in his constituency in Pemagatsel were suffering.

In responding to a query of Bhutan joining the WTO, PM said that he was not against joint it but was against joining without knowing enough. Bhutan News Service