The Maoist party continued its long tradition of neutralising opposing voices through money or force by buying off Nagarik, one of Nepal's major dailies. Dahal is believed to have bought 48 per cent of Nagarik's shares and has already paid Binodraj Gyawali Rs 40.6 million out of the promised 60 million.
After Kishor Nepal was appointed the chief-editor, the paper suddenly changed its stance from being pro-democracy to hero-worshipping Dahal and blaming the NC and UML for the CA's demise. And now that the paper is Pushpa Kamal Dahal's mouthpiece, it has started boycotting all news related to Mohan Baidya. While journalists at Nagarik have criticised these moves, the NC and UML leaders are unhappy that all major media houses like Nagarik and Kantipur are turning leftist.