Peace, prosperity and equality with inclusive representation of all sections of the people in the state mechanism will be some of the features of ‘new Nepal’, experts have said.
At a two-day national conference organised to discuss the structure of ‘new Nepal’ in Kathmandu, representatives from various sectors pointed out the need for sweeping transformation in social, cultural, economic and political structures so as to translate the dream of ‘new Nepal’ into reality.
Addressing the concluding plenary session the conference Wednesday, former law minister and political thinker Nilamber Acharya visualised tomorrow’s Nepal as “a republic free from feudalism, inequalities with guarantee of pluralism and sovereign power to Nepalese people in real sense”.
“There is need for transformation in the family, society, political parties and every institution if we want to build a new, prosperous Nepal. It should be guaranteed that state is all about the people not a single person,” he said.
Acharya asked both the parties and the Maoists to reach a political agreement on major issues because social and economic transformation is not possible without a broad understanding among the political forces.
“Nepal can no more stand military rule or any form of dictatorship,” he added.
Finance Minister Dr Ram Sharan Mahat pointed out that for a liberal democracy, plural and competitive political system, respect to rule of law and guarantee of fundamental liberties of citizens are a must.
“Empowering the local governments and limiting the power of the central government will address most the problems that Nepal is facing currently, instead of moving towards federalism that dissects country into parts,” Mahat argued.
Democratising democratic forces will, however, be a challenge for Nepal, according to him.
“Economic agendas are being overshadowed due to politicisation of issues. Economic prosperity must get priority in the list of national agenda if we want a better and prosperous Nepal,” he added.
More than 200 representatives from various sections of the society discussed at length issues like restructuring of the state, accountability, transparent justice, interim constitution, development and rebuilding of state, reconstruction and rehabilitation, resolution of the decade-long armed conflict and effective management of the arms and armed forces in the two-day national conference.