Media experts have criticised the government policy of allowing foreign investment in media in Nepal, fearing it might ravage our sense of nationhood. None of our South Asian neighbours and even many developed countries do not allow foreign investment in the mass media.

Media professionals expressed their discontent when the government gave the go-ahead to India's The Times of India Group to invest in an English-language daily. The group has other plans up its sleeve-it has already begun some initial legwork to launch a FM radio.

"A free press has not materialised in Nepal yet. But is not subjugated, and if foreign investment is allowed that might be the end of our sense of nationality," says Suresh Acharya, president of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists. The same issue, permitting foreign investment in the media, faced strong opposition in India. Sushma Swaraj, India's Minister for Information and Broadcasting, had drawn widespread flak last October when she publicly said that foreign investment in media could be considered. The almost uniform opinion of Indian media professionals against the decision was: "Foreign investment is ruled out in the executive, the judiciary and legislature. Similarly it should also be ruled out in the fourth estate, the media."

Harihar Birahi, president of the Press Council Nepal says that direct or indirect foreign investment in the media can be counterproductive. "It is a duty of the government to monitor and control indirect foreign investment in media, if there has been any," he added. Birahi holds that since the media is a sensitive industry, it should be run solely through national resources.

Journalist P Kharel said that entry of foreign investment in the Nepali press is a paradox. "No South Asian country allows foreign investment in journalism. It was protested in India. There is reason to suspect the intention behind these investments, because it comes from the same country where this very practice was opposed in such strong terms. As far as the issue of nationality is concerned, foreign investment in the media in any form should be protested by professional organisations like Federation of Nepalese Journalists, the Nepal Press Council and the Nepal Press Institute," said Kharel.