Responsibility of nation building is on our shoulders: President

Kathmandu, Jan 11 (RSS): President Bidya Devi Bhandari has extended tribute to leader of National Unity Campaign, Prithvi Narayan Shah, on the occasion of 299th Prithvi Jayanti and National Unity Day.

In a message today, the President has stated that the King of Gorkha, Prithvi Narayan prepared a foundation for the unification of the nation and the unification of the nation prepared a broader basis of building a strong national unity by preserving various religions, cultures, languages and traditions.

President Bhandari has expressed the belief that the country would make a great stride in its development through the best utilization of nation's diversities as its own strength. 

President Bhandari said that the responsibility of making the nation prosperous is on our shoulders adding that this Day would help unite all Nepalis for the cause of nationality, national integrity, sovereignty, stability and prosperity.  

The President has also wished for inspiration to all for making a self-reliant and socialism-oriented robust economy by materialising the national commitment of 'Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali' forwarded by the government after the establishment of the Federal Democratic Republic. 

Prachanda-Nepal faction's secretariat meet calls to respect freedom of expression

Kathmandu, Jan 10 (RSS): The secretariat meeting of the Nepal Communist Party (NCP) Prachanda-Nepal faction has urged the government to respect the right to freedom of expression ensured by the Constitution of Nepal.

The meeting held Sunday has also expressed its regret towards the treatment from the government side on the statements made by people from different walks of life of the society over the House of Representatives (HoR) dissolution. 

Talking to the media after the meeting, party's spokesperson Narayankaji Shrestha urged the government to respect the citizen's right to freedom of expression adding that four former Chief Justices of the Supreme Court made their statements in the capacity of citizens.

Likewise, the meeting has also urged the intellectuals, imminent persons, aware citizens and artistes to unite against the government move to dissolve the HoR while deciding to effectively run the party's protest programmes.

Furthermore, the meeting has protested the government move to end the National Assembly session. 

The faction has organised a cadres' meeting on a huge scale in Gandaki Province on Tuesday.

Current government is government of stability: PM Oli

Kathmandu, Jan 10 (RSS): Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said that the incumbent government was the government of stability.  

Addressing today's meeting of the National Assembly (NA), Prime Minister Oli argued that the incumbent was the government of stability although conspiracies were hatched to remove the prime minister. 

He said, "No one can remove the prime minister from the post as per their wish." 

The Prime Minister argued that there was no point to tender his resignation "The post (of prime minister) could not be handed over to anyone at any situation,"PM Oli added.  

PM Oli mentioned that there is a provision that the President at the recommendation of the prime minister could announce the new date for elections if any party fails to get majority, two or more than two parties fail to form the government and the prime minister could not get the vote of confidence in a month.   

He opined, "Conducting election is not instability. Non-implementation of constitution in a proper way is instability. Going by the constitutional way does not lead to instability." 

Urging those saying dissolution of House of Representatives as unconstitutional to thoroughly read the constitution, Prime Minister Oli stressed the need of stopping the activities carried out to influence the justice delivery by the Supreme Court. 

The PM shared that former justices attempted to influence the court by misusing their position adding that the court should not be kept under pressure. 

PM Oli clarified that the Nepal Communist Party (NCP) has been moving ahead in line with the principle of independence of the court and separation of power. 

Stating that joint efforts were being made to spread instability in the country, he urged all to go for election with by being responsible. 

PM Oli further said that Nepal's international relations and relations with two immediate neighbouring countries were friendly. 

He shared that the government has been making preparation to bring vaccine for coronavirus disease soon saying the government was always active to safeguard the lives of the citizens. 

Recalling that the incumbent government has respected all nationalities, Prime Minister Oli said the cabinet meeting held Sunday decided to announce public holiday on Maghi festival. 

PM bats for elections instead of arguments

Kathmandu, Jan 10 (RSS): Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has urged all political parties to participate in the elections instead of arguing on House of Representatives (HoR) dissolution.  

Responding to the queries by National Assembly (NA) members in today's meeting of the NA, PM Oli claimed that he was the leader of NCP Parliamentary Party with a clear majority while recommending for the HoR dissolution. 

PM Oli also said that some people with traditional mindset have raised various questions over the President’s dignity adding that the President was constitutional with ceremonial roles in approving the government recommendation.  

Prior to this, lawmakers Jitendra Dev, Pramila Kumari, Ramesh Jung Rayamajhi, Prakash Pantha and Anita Devkota had raised questions to the Prime Minister on various issues including HoR dissolution, announcement of dates for election and ending of National Assembly session. 

Nepali territory will be retrieved at any cost: PM Oli

Kathmandu, Jan 10 (RSS): Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has made it clear that although his party was given huge number of votes for political stability, the government was obstructed to work. PM Oli said it while putting forth his views at the National Assembly meeting on the contemporary issues and the issues raised by lawmakers today.

He commented though the government was moving ahead as per people's mandate, the undemocratic bargaining was made to foment political instability in the country. "There was machination to topple government every six month though it was mandated to continue for five years. Now, with the announcement of fresh election, country will engage fully for election," he asserted.

PM Oli reminded, "People had wished five year term to the government. But sheer unhealthy competition within the ruling party created present situation. The situation was that even the government's proposals were denied."

He took the opportunity to share the historic works of the government in the front of physical development, education and health. The construction of Ranipokhari to which he had laid foundation stone completed recently. Some 700 thousand houses damaged by the earthquake were reconstructed; reconstruction of Dharahara reached the final stage; beauty of the Kathmandu Valley increased; cultural heritages were built; industrial estates were expanded; agriculture was modernized and commercialized; sewerages made in Tarai cities; and irrigation facilities were expanded. Even the education and health sectors witnessed remarkable progress, the PM made elaborate, arguing that such progress had never occurred before.

According to him, notable initiative was made to solve problems in the relations with India by holding comprehensive dialogues. "Since 1928, water is supplied to India via Sharada barrage, but our land is not irrigated. Still, none spoke on it. When I spoke, why the question is raised over the discussion on Nepal's relations to India during my tenure?"

Some have said the relations with India would be strained when new map was issued by incorporating Nepali lands as Limpiyadhura, Lipulek and Kalapani, but the territories were brought with the issuance of new map and made it a part of constitution, he reminded. "Now, the discussion with India is held on the basis of friendship. Nepali land will be retrieved at any cost," he stressed while addressing the seventh session of the parliament.

Moreover, PM Oli said Nepal bravely faced the blockade imposed for promulgating constitution. Nepal was land-linked by making transport and transit agreement with China. Earlier too, efforts were made to topple his government being nervous over the good works it did, he claimed.

Oil pipeline to be extended to Lothar, Chitwan

 Birgunj, Jan 10 (RSS): After the success of the Motihari-Amlekhgunj petroleum pipeline project, the government is extending the pipeline from Amlekhgunj to Lothar of Chitwan. A study is now underway to materialize the 69-kilometers pipeline from Amlekhgunj to Chitwan, said Nepal coordinator in the Nepal-India Pipeline Joint Study Group, Birendra Goit.

The study will help to identify the method of extending the pipeline and the estimated cost. A joint task force to be formed following an understanding between the governments of Nepal and India will develop the detail project report. 

Lothar in Chitwan will have a storage capacity of 100,000 kilolitre of petroleum. 

The pipeline from Motihari of India to Amlekhgunj depot of Nepal Oil Corporation is being used to transport diesel and a study is now being carried to start transportation of petrol as well, using the same pipeline, said Chief of NOC Province-2, Bharat Regmi. For this two petrol tanks of 4.2 million litre capacity each are being constructed at the Amlekhgunj depot for storing petrol.

Petrol can be supplied at the rate of 300,000 to 400,000 litres per hour using the pipeline. Transportation of fuel using the pipeline has saved transportation cost, ended technical loss and helps maintain quality and control leakage, Regmi said.

Nepalis should unite for truth and justice: Former PM Dr Bhattarai

Biratnagar, Jan 9 (RSS) : Former Prime Minister and Chairman of Federal Council of Janata Samajwadi Party Nepal Dr Baburam Bhattarai said that Nepalis should unite for the cause of truth and justice.

At a mass demonstration and protest rally organised by his party in Biratnagar on Saturday, the former PM said, “It is our responsibility to safeguard the achievements gotten from people’s revolt and people’s moment.” Saying that people’s struggle was needed to safeguard the constitution’s supremacy, Dr Bhattarai called for ensuring rights of landless and farmers, and putting to an end to violence against women.

Accusing the government of being failure to curb corruption, Dr Bhattarai expressed his displeasure for dissolution of House of Representatives (HoR) despite having a comfortable majority to the ruling party. Also speaking at the programme, party’s Federal Chairman Upendra Yadav stated that political issue should be resolved through political level.

He also called upon the public to get ready for revolt and struggle and argued that the expansion of the council of ministers by the ‘caretaker government’ was not appropriate. Yadav was of the view that the government weakened the political parties and seized the constitutional bodies but could not bring about reforms in education and health sectors.

He also asked one and all to unite to defend republicanism, federalism and democracy achieved from the people’s sacrifices.

PM Oli defends his move to dissolve HoR

Kathmandu, Jan 9 (RSS) : Nepal Communist Party Chairman and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Saturday reiterated that he was obliged to dissolve the House of Representatives (HoR) due to non-cooperation from within the party for the government to work in favour of the people.

Addressing a gathering of party’s youth wing in the capital city, PM Oli stated that the other faction of the party was hindering for constitution’s implementation and creating obstacles in appointments to the constitutional bodies. 

“The government was prevented from working, from making laws and the parliamentary committee created troubles to government by obstructing to submit the bill in the Parliament. So, I announced the (mid-term) election to advance the country by taking fresh mandate as the country could not move ahead in the expected speed.

On the occasion, Oli said that the people from outside and within the party were panicked after he announced the election for the fresh mandate. Stating that some people were terming the government decision to HoR dissolution as unconstitutional, the PM said that the people who served in the Supreme Court should not threaten the judiciary. The PM also urged them to respect the judiciary. 

Going for fresh mandate of the people is never an anti-democratic move, he said, commenting that those fearing to test people's verdict are against democracy. He claimed that the elections would be held in the stipulated date. "No one in the country should harbor doubt on the conduction of elections". 

The prime minister further noted that the incumbent government would not invite any autocratic regime. "Election date would not change anymore". Urging his party leaders and cadres to create environment for elections, Oli said those reluctant to work in favour of the country and people should be put aside. 

Also speaking on the occasion, former chair of Youth Association and ex-minister Mahesh Basnet said dissolving parliament was a prerogative right of the Prime Minister and there was no meaning to protest the decision of the parliamentary dissolution.