Kathmandu, May 26 : Nepali Congress (NC) President Sher Bahadur Deuba has said the government should hold the responsibility of ensuring personal protective gears to journalists during the COVID-19 crisis.    
In his address to a ZOOM-facilitated event organised to mark the 29th anniversary of the Nepal Press Union ( NPU) today , the main opposition party leader demanded the government offer free COVID-19 testing to the entire journalists for the safety of media sector.    
''Many working journalists have become jobless during this period, media houses are in crisis due to lockdown's impact on advertisement business and some daily and weekly papers have been closed due to the crisis.'' He recommended the government to come up with a relief package for media to help face unprecedented challenges.    
'' The Prime Minister needs to make correction of weaknesses pointed out by media,'' the former Prime Minister said.    
He called for media to further amplify voice for further systematising of COVID-19 quarantine facilities across the country, ensuring abundant medical supplies and adequate management of essential supplies and rescuing Nepalis in crisis at abroad. He called on journalists to carry on their duty without any fear. On the occasion, he launched a digital calendar of the NPU Sunsari.