Kathmandu, July 1
The government spokesperson has claimed that the government has not allocated a single penny for organising the International Indian Film Academy awards in Kathmandu.
Minister for Communications and Information Technology Gokul Prasad Baskota says news stories that claimed the government is allocating Rs 1 billion for the Bollywood event are all rumours.
Baskota’s statement comes at a time when social media users, cinema artists and some political leaders are criticising the government.
“I have checked the Cabinet decision after I heard about it,” Baskota says, “It has one sentence about the event–that the government will approve the request to host the event in Nepal.”
“We have not allowed allocating rupee one also.”
Speaking at a function organised on the occasion of 19th anniversary of Film Development Board in Kathmandu, the Minister said the government was open to proposals from international film industries about such events.
Speaking before Baskota, veteran filmmaker Yadav Kharel had commented that the decision was anti-nationalist.
