DHANGADI: Prime Minister KP Oli will address the meeting of the Far Western Province Assembly on February 20.

According to Balaram Sharma, Secretary at the Province Secretariat, PM Oli and Chairman of Nepal Communist Party Pushpa Kamal Dahal are scheduled to address a meeting of the party cadres meeting in Dhangadi the same day.

Prime Minister K P Oli’s first year in the government has been satisfactory. This has been a ‘foundation year’ towards the country’s prosperity. In the last 12 months, the government’s priorities have been on formulating federal laws, building the base for development works, and good governance.

Opposition and some media have criticized the government of failing to fulfill the people’s aspiration, which is totally baseless. In fact, the government has carried out a lot of tasks bringing new hopes among the people. The allegations that the Nepal Communist Party (NCP)-led government failed to perform its tasks owing to the intra-party wrangling is untrue.

Several industries have been established in the last one year. Youths are currently engaged in creating employment opportunities within the country.

Moreover, the country has witnessed significant growth in tourist arrivals. Around 1.2 million international tourists visited Nepal in the last 12 months. Production has increased significantly.

The government has been endeavoring towards maintaining law and order situation, stability and good governance. There have been instances of ‘tuins’ being replaced by bridges. Moreover, the construction works of the Lumbini International Airport, Nijgadh Airport, and Pokhara Regional Airport, and other infrastructure have been accelerated.

One of the significant achievements has been on the diplomatic front. The government has been able to take the diplomatic relations with the neighbors – India and China to a new height.

(This piece has been written based on the conversation with Dr. Rajan Bhattarai, Foreign Affairs Adviser to Prime Minister)

POKHARA: Coordinator of Naya Shakti Nepal Dr. Baburam Bhattarai has lambasted the government of failing to take headways as per the people’s aspirations.

Speaking at a program in Pokhara, former Prime Minister Dr. Bhattarai said the government’s pace is generic and sluggish. “Though the government was supposed to take giant leaps in development, it failed to do so,” he stated.

Dr. Bhattarai also came dwon heavily on the government for failing to carry out concrete work to consolidate the country’s economy. He raised concern over the increased poverty and unemployment in the country.

WARSAW: U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said the United States aims to “get as far down the road as we can” ahead of a summit with North Korea, reports said.

US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un are meeting in Vietnam on February 27 and 28 this month.

Pompeo said he was sending a team to Asia soon to hold further discussions around all issues. The two leaders had in last June met and discussed at a groundbreaking Singapore summit, according to Reuters.

Speaking at a press conference in Warsaw that Trump and Kim would be talking about “denuclearization pillar they agreed to” at their first summit, reports said.

He said that the US aims to get this “as far down the road as we can”. (Agencies)

KATHMANDU: Prime Minister KP Oli has condemned the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir that killed around 40 personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force on Thursday.

PM Oli telephoned Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi and condemned the attack. He also tweeted saying that he conveyed ‘our heartfelt condolences and sympathies to the families of the victims’.

Likewise, the government has strongly condemned the terrorist attack that resulted in the loss of many lives.

A statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the government extends heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, and the Government and people of India.

It said that Nepal unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

The statement further stated that Nepal believes that such heinous acts of terrorism cannot be justified on any ground.

KATHMANDU: The ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) has warned of registering an impeachment motion against Raj Narayan Pathak, Commissioner at the Commission for the Investment of Abuse of Authority (CIAA).

Pathak has been allegedly involved in taking a bribe of Rs. 75 lakhs from the Nepal Engineering College assuring the college management of settling a land dispute.

Talking to Khabarhub, NCP leader Yogesh Bhattarai said that the party would be compelled to register an impeachment if Pathak failed to step down on moral grounds.

A video was publicized where Pathak was taking bribe from Lambodhar Neupane, Chairperson of the College Management Committee some five months ago.

KATHMANDU: Prime Minister K P Oli has claimed that the last one year has been the year of foundation towards a prosperous Nepal.

In a televised address to the nation on the completion of the government’s first year in office, PM Oli claimed the first year has been spent by laying the foundation. “There is no looking back. The country is headed towards prosperity,” he maintained.

“The international community appreciated Nepal’s efforts,” he said during the address to the nation.

He, however, expressed the sarcasm as to how some people expected other infrastructures such as doors and windows at a time when the foundation work is being carried out.

Saying that Nepal is treading on the path of a ‘comprehensive democracy’, PM Oli refuted allegations that his government was headed towards authoritarianism. “Those allegations are based on prejudices. The charges are baseless,” he asserted adding that the government is committed to democratic values, social justice, equality and social inclusion.

“The government has been facing unnecessary criticism from various quarters,” he said expressing sarcasm over what he called some ‘opinion-makers’ of being hell-bent on defaming the country. “I am shocked with the way some people want to defame the country at a time when the government has been successful to giving a positive impression internationally,” he said.

He said power has been decentralized to the local level, quite a few laws have been enacted as per the spirit of the constitution, and those in conflict with the constitution have been amended. Likewise, investment-friendly laws have been formulated, he stated. “Moreover, my Davos visit has given an impression in the international arena that Nepal has an environment that is conducive to investment,” he maintained.

PM Oli justified the government’s performance citing its endeavor to maintain a balanced foreign policy. “Nepal’s relations with India has taken a new height, and the two governments are working closely to address other issues,” he informed.

He also recalled his participation in various international forums, including the 73^rd UN General Assembly saying that he has succeeded to apprise and impress the international community and several heads of the states about the successful completion of Nepal’s peace process and the promulgation of the new constitution.

“The international community appreciated Nepal’s efforts,” he said during the address to the nation.

The Prime Minister also informed about the growth in agriculture sector, control in market price, significant inflow of tourists, among other issues.

The Prime Minister also reiterated his ‘zero tolerance’ commitment on corruption saying, “While I have been reiterating my commitment against corruption, it is ridiculous to see some people, accustomed to corruption, pointing fingers at the government,” he said.

The international summits, including BIMSTEC and others that Nepal hosted in the last one year, he said, helped in making clear Nepal’s stance on its foreign policy. “Let me also remind you that, Nepal has so far diplomatic relations with 163 countries,” he said.

The Prime Minister also mentioned about other achievements such as the 22 hours operation of the Tribhuvan International Airport, while the construction of Gautam Buddha International Airport in Lumbini, and Pokhara Regional Airport have been accelerated.

Likewise, PM Oli informed the progress in the hydropower sector such as the establishment of the Hydro Energy Bank, and the expedition of the Upper Tamakoshi and the Arun 3 hydro projects.

The Prime Minister also informed about the growth in agriculture sector, control in market price, significant inflow of tourists, among other issues.

On the occasion, PM Oli maintained that inflation is under control.

KATHMANDU: Prime Minister K P Oli has claimed that his government has created a history in accomplishing major tasks within a short period of time.

“Be assured, this government has accomplished several major tasks within a short period of time,” PM Oli said while launching a program aimed at mobilizing funds of the general public for hydropower development in Kathmandu.

The program has been launched coinciding with the first anniversary of the KP Oli-led government. He went to claim that the country would graduate to a developed country in the next 10 years.

“Since we have built a strong foundation in all fronts — legally, strategically and financially –there’s no looking back,” the Prime Minister said while justifying his assurance.

Stating that despite being in resources, the country has not been able to exploit them, PM Oli assured that all Nepalis will benefit from the country’s hydro-power sector in the next few years.

“Trust me, the country is moving ahead on the path of development and prosperity,” he said adding, “It’s time to act more and talk less.”

A good orator, Gagan Thapa represents the Nepali Congress party in the parliament. Widely popular for his charismatic attitude, youth leader Thapa talks about his party’s leadership and the intra-party wrangling during an exclusive conversation with Kabarhub. He is currently involved in ‘cleansing’ what he says party’s ‘filth’ to take the party to a newer height. Excerpts:

The decision of the party leadership should not be self-centric. It should be made in line with the party statute.

Nepali Congress seems to be weaker internally. The party is gripped with intra-party wrangling. It has not been able to address the internal issues. What is your reading?

Candidly speaking, intra-party feud is not new within the Nepali Congress. We, in fact, have been endeavoring to get into the root-cause of the problems. Take for an instance, we have not been able to sort out the issue of Nepal Students’ Union. Formation of an ad-hoc committee is not the way out. Therefore, the best option is to get into the root cause of the problems existing within the party.

NC President made an effort to alter the decision endorsed by the Mahasamiti meeting. Isn’t this a breach of the party statute? 

Nepali Congress has its own statute. What I believe is that all party activities should be governed in line with the statute. Problems can be resolved if the statute is followed in letter and spirit. However, the top-rung leaders have been found to be ignoring the fact by making decisions arbitrarily to suit their interests. The decision of the party leadership should not be self-centric. It should be made in line with the party statute.

The views and opinions generated through by these factions should be channelized properly in the interest of the party while taking the party statute into consideration. The groups are formed based on some certain ideologies.

Do you mean to say that the party leadership is breaching the party statute?

Let me tell you frankly that we all are responsible for the weaknesses. We are imprisoned by our own habits and traits that we are not willing to shake off. We have to change our attitude.

Observers note that NC is mired in factions with leaders forming factions and sub-groups that led to the party’s downfall. What do you say?

Let me reiterate that the problems, which come to the surface quite often, will be resolved if the party leadership followed the party statute. There could be factions or groups within the party but the party should not be taken hostage in the name of factionalism.

My concern is that the leadership should try to find out the reasons behind the formation of factions within the party. The views and opinions generated by these factions should be channelized properly in the interest of the party while taking the party statute into consideration. The groups are formed based on some certain ideologies.

There were reports about the formation of a youth group to take the reins of the party. How is the preparation?

It is not important who leads the party. The question is whether the leadership will take the party to a newer height. The question is whether NC will emerge victorious in the next elections. Likewise, the concern is whether the party will steer the country to the path of development and prosperity to meet people’s expectations.

Handing over the leadership to the younger generation is just a part of the issue. Even if the rein of the party are handed over to the young generation, I think, it will not bring about any miracle overnight unless we have a pragmatic vision. Therefore, the need of the hour is to have a leadership with a vision and positive attitude.

Does the alliance of youth leaders still exist?

We are still active. We wanted our views to be heard in the central committee, which, unfortunately did not go well as expected. We, however, succeeded to discuss it at the Mahasamiti meeting. We are preparing to take the agenda to the grass-roots level. We are working on both the ideological as well and behavioral aspect so as to consolidate the party. We are also soon launching a nation-wide discourse on how the moral etiquette could be fostered and instilled in every party member in the NC.

We should move ahead with a ‘scientific mechanism’ on what needs to be done in the next five years after emerging victorious in the next federal elections. NC should be able to tell the voters what we will do in the next 50 years. The party should be able to tell the people what it can do in the future, not what it did in the past.