Itahari, Jan. 24: NC president and ex-prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala has said that since even those involving themselves in the terrorist activity of the Maoists are the citizens of this country, he has decided to go to the Maoist affected areas to convince them that they should come within the framework of the constitution and work together with others for addressing the common issues of nation building.
NC president Koirala was inaugurating a week-long free eye relief camp organised jointly by Lions Club of Dantakali 325 a Dharan and B. P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences here today.
Expressing his commitment to bringing all the Nepalese people into the democratic mainstream and carrying out development works in deference to popular aspirations, Mr Koirala expressed confidence that he will be able to persuade the Maoists into accepting the parliamentary norms and values.
Since government efforts alone do not suffice for the development of each and every sector, social organizations should continue to contribute to the task of nation building, he observed.
Stating that the government is seriously considering various ways to develop the Koshi Tappu Wild Life sanctuary in Sunsari, which is famous for the number and varieties of birds it has, into a tourist destination, he said the golf course at Dharan, beautiful places like Bhedetar and other places of religious and historical importance have already started attracting many tourists.
Nepali Congress is committed to constructing a dam on the Sunsari river so as to providing adequate irrigation facility for the land south of the highway, he said, adding JICA has already completed its field study for that purpose.
As wished by the late B. P. Koirala when he was in All India Institute of Medical Sciences for treatment of cancer, the B. P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences has already been established with the joint assistance of India and Nepal and a B. P. Koirala Cancer Hospital has already been constructed at Bharatpur with the joint investment of Nepal and China, Mr Koirala said.
Assistant Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Narayan Singh Pun observed that every district of the country has the potentials for developing tourism infrastructures.
Vice-chancellor of B. P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences Dr. Shekhar Koirala said the institute has been able to maintain a distinct identity by committing itself to human health care and regular health care campaign for rural people.
Also speaking at the function presided over by president of the Lions Club of Dantakali Purna Subedi were Laukahi VDC chairman Devkrishna Yadav and Til Kumari Limbu.
More than 150 eye patients are expected to receive cataract surgery service under the camp.
Also today, NC president Koirala addressed party workers at a programme organised by NC Sunsari district committee at Laukahi.
On the occasion, he alerted all democratic forces against the conspiracy being hatched by anti-democratic forces to prove parliamentary system a failure.
In a democracy every one has the rights to work for his personality development through competition; leg pulling is not in anyone’s interest, he added.
Acting NC district president Ram Bahadur Basnet presided.