KATHMANDU, May 28: Prime Times television’s most popular television talk show Janata Janna Chahanchan has never been boring—always full of interesting conversation and never shy of intense debates and dramas.

On Monday, Dr Ram Saran Mahat, leader of main opposition party Nepali Congress, frequently told show host Rishi Dhamala ‘not to interrupt’ and ‘know before you ask questions’ not even hesitating to accuse the Reporters’ Club Nepal’s President Dhamala of advocating for Nepal Communist Party Chair K P Sharma Oli-led government.

In the talk show organized to discuss the upcoming budget for the fiscal year 2019/20, six-time former Finance Minister Dr. Mahat claimed that it was Nepali Congress’ economic policy that laid the entire foundation of the economic development of Nepal.

Mahat accused the government of not worrying about the budget.

“They talk nonsense, artificially allocate a larger budget and fail to implement it. They talk big but lack the ability to work.”

“The previous year’s budget was ambitious but its implementation and output were less than expected.”

When Dhamala said all the finance ministers have increased the size of the budget each fiscal year, Mahat said, “No…no..no. Rishi ji, you must know and learn before you talk. I am the only one who allocated the budget in limits when everyone was lobbying for an increase in size.”

The budget should be increased paying attention to previous year’s expense. An increment of 10-15 percent is normal.

According to him, the Nepali Congress-led government was able to cut down the national loan from 65 percent to 25 percent.

“Nepali Congress brought several economic reforms.”

When Dhamala said Dr. Mahat started the privatization of business and industry, Dr. Mahat said, “First know the facts…then speak. I supported the transfer of business from the public to private ownership because it was the need of the hours then. We took the correct decision.”

“But, isn’t the privatization has made the country’s economic condition worse? Which industry that was privatized has thrived?” asked Dhamala.

Mahat said, “Nonsense. Don’t talk nonsense. You should have a better understanding. Government-owned industries might have closed but…

Dhamala interrupted, “What about Janakpur Cigarette factory?”

“First listen carefully. Let me speak. You ask a question and interrupt in the middle…,” said Mahat.

“The government had to provide monetary support to the Janakpur industry. But now, the government receives billions of revenues from the privately owned tobacco industries.”

“Be it shoe factory, cigarette or sugar factory, the privatization has increased the size of government coffers. We used the same money to invest in the development of the country.”

Communist countries like China and Russia have privatized the business because government-run industries bear the loss. The government should focus on education, health, administration not business.

“Isn’t Nepal Telecom is profit?, asked Dhamala.

“Because its monopoly,” replied Mahat. “You should understand better first. Non-competitive industries such as telecom can be run by the government. But, other business which runs in the competition should be in the market.”

When Dhamala said the budget Mahat brought has doomed Nepali Congress, Mahat said, “you should be knowledgeable.”

“Our economic policy is not the reason we lost the elections. Even when the country was in crisis due to Maoist insurgency, our policy kept the country’s economy stable. Nepal, which collected 12 billion in revenue now collects 800-900 billion. It is because of our economic policy.

“So, you should not run after the fabricated rumors.”

“But you know, the communist government has always brought the popular budgets,” said Dhamala.

“Popular? When you distribute money, it becomes popular. Don’t you mean this?, said irritated Mahat.

“You have not understood here… so before you ask you should understand.”

“A finance minister’s responsibility is not becoming popular. His task is to think about a long-term economic goal. Distributing money and becoming popular will not take the country to prosperity.

“They have distributed money to their cadres. They have become successful,” said Dhamala.“You could not distribute money to cadres, neither you gave it to the poor.”

“You questions are funny and laughable,” said Mahat.

“You are ignorant. You have no knowledge.”

Dhamala then said he was ready to debate with Mahat for hours on the economic policy.

“You knowledge does not match that standard,” responded Mahat.

“Has the budget you brought developed the country?” asked Dhamala.

“All the development works and reforms are credited to our budget,” replied Mahat.

“Should the government distribute the money from state coffers to its cadres? Did they give you?”

Dhamala said, “Excuse me Dr. Mahat. I will quit journalism if you find proof.”

To watch more, see the video:

KATHMANDU, March 31: Senior leader of the main opposition party Nepal Congress Dr. Ram Saran Mahat has highlighted the need to work together for attaining the national goals.

Speaking at a special function organized by the Reporters’ Club Nepal on its 21^st anniversary, Dr. Mahat, also the former finance minister, said, “Instability and the political transition has ended in the country. Now, the time has come for the leaders of all political parties to work together for attaining the national goal of development and prosperity.”

“The government enjoys two-third majority at the parliament. But they should also discuss with the opposition party,” he added.

Leader Mahat, on the occasion, congratulated and extended best wishes to the club on its 21^st anniversary.

KATHMANDU, Jan 25: Nepali Congress leader Ram Saran Mahat said the Indian Republic Day is as significant to Nepal as it is to the Indian government and its people.

India celebrates the Republic Day on January 26 every year to honor the constitution of India which came into force on the same day in the year 1950. On this day Indian Constitution Assembly approved the new Indian constitution replacing the Government of India Act, 1935 into the governing document of India.

Speaking at a special interaction program organized on the eve of the 70^th Indian Republic Day, Dr Mahat congratulated the government of India and its people and added, “Nepal, as a republic country, also regards the Indian Republic Day as highly significant.  India being the largest democracy in the world, the Indian constitution is an important legacy to Nepal and many other democratic countries as well.”

Dr Mahat further said that Nepal being the closest neighbor to India, which is the fastest growing economy in the world, Nepal should learn to utilize the opportunity to its benefit.

“Nepal and India share a very cordial and positive bond. Indo-Nepal bilateral relation is age old and multidimensional, is a part of our daily life. India has always been a source for education, expertise, economic partnership and support to Nepal. As the fastest growing economy, Nepal should be able to utilize this opportunity to its benefit,” he said.

He further added that Nepal should do necessary home works to encourage more Indian investments in the country.

“India invested more than 15 billion USD in the foreign market. India is still the largest investment in Nepal. Of the total investments, two-thirds come from India. Nepal government should improve its quality to and make India a source of investment, tourism and market,” he added.

He further said the Nepal and India should work toward making the Indo-Nepal bilateral relation more positive and dynamic.

WHITE PAPER FABRICATED, MISLEADING AND CONTRARY TO REAL PICTURE OF NATION’S ECONOMY

KATHMANDU, April 9: Leader of Main opposition party Dr Ram Saran Mahat has described Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli’s India trip as successful.

Prime Minister Oli returned on Monday concluding his three-day state visit to India. During his visit, Oli held on one-to-one talk with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The duo also issued a 12-point communiqué which aimed at expanding connectivity, enhance people-to-people linkages and promote economic growth and development of the two countries.

India has agreed to give Nepal an access to sea through inland waterways and expanding railway linkages connecting Kathmandu with Raxual and developing new partnership in agriculture.

“PM Oli’s visit is a huge success as it has played a crucial role in improving the Indo-Nepal bilateral ties. Nepali Congress has concluded that PM’s trip has been successful,” said Dr Mahat at an interaction program organized by the Reporters’ Club Nepal on Monday.

“The two prime ministers have reached some milestone agreements. Having access to sea and railway will be a milestone for the country to accelerate the economic growth,” added Mahat.

However he expressed serious concerns over how these agreements will be implemented.

“Things are easier said than done. How will the railway be built? Will the assistance come as grant or as loan? We have been discussing about having access to sea through inland waterways for almost fourty years now. A detailed study report on bringing railway is yet to come.”

Even though Nepal and India reached some milestone agreements such as inland waterways, expansion of railway connectivity and cooperation in agriculture development, critics have said that Oli’s visit failed to raise the issues of national interest.

Opposition leaders have criticized Oli for giving less importance to issue of border disputes, land encroachment and trade deficit in the name of mending ties with India.

“We have been facing billions of trade deficits with India. We export less and import more. Prime Minister should have raised these issues. It is sad that he did not,” said Mahat.

“PM Oli’s India visit was successful and not historical.”

“India had already realized the urgency to mend the relation with Nepal that worsened after the constitution promulgation in 2015.”

On a different note, NC leader Mahat slammed the white paper the government had issued on nation’s economy—which said the state coffers were empty and the country was in danger of facing economic crisis.

“The white paper is totally fabricated and misleading. The state coffer has not emptied as stated in the white paper. The revenue growth is around 20 percent and Nepal’s tax to gross domestic product ratio is 24 per cent—which is  the highest in South Asia,” said Mahat.

“The government has not presented the actual picture of nation’s economy. Only the darker sides have been revealed. The government wants to give impression that the government has taken over the economy in a bad shape,” he added.

‘PEOPLE WILL REJECT LEFTIST ALLIANCE’

KATHMANDU, Oct 6: Dr Ram Saran Mahat, leader of Nepali Congress, has claimed that the people will ultimately reject the leftist alliance since the Nepalese people have already accepted the parliamentary practice and democracy.

“The two leftist parties are being united on ground basis of communism. Prachanda even maintained that there will be communism in Nepal within the next 10 years–which clearly is a threat to liberal democracy,” said the former Finance Minister while speaking during an interaction program organized by the Reporters’ Club Nepal on Friday.

“They have perhaps forgotten that people’s mandate is not in favor of communism. Nepalese people believe in democratic system and parliamentary practice,” added Mahat.

“This is odd and unnatural. People will reject the leftist alliance eventually,” he claimed.

Earlier this week, the three leftist parties CPN-UML, CPN (Maoist Center) and Naya Shakti Party Nepal formally announced their electoral alliance and unity process afterward the upcoming federal and provincial elections.

Dr Mahat questioned the moral character of Maoist Center (MC) and accused the party (MC) of frequently changing alliance just to gain power. MC is the ruling coalition partner NC. The two ruling partners also made poll alliance in various local levels to contest the local level elections concluded recently. “The MC performed better in the Province 2 on NC’s support,” he said.

Several NC leaders have also maintained that the Maoist ministers should either resign voluntarily on moral ground or Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba should sack them of their responsibilities as the MC already joined the leftist alliance.

Deuba close NC leaders have said that the prime minister is mulling over reshuffling the cabinet once majority vote is secured in the parliament. But Dr Mahat made it clear that the government has not taken any decision on reshuffling the cabinet immediately.

“The election is near. Restructuring the cabinet on the eve of the election would only create more instability and insecurity,” said Mahat.

“There has been discussions about reshuffling the cabinet in the party but the government has not taken any decision in this regard,” he added.

Mahat also accused UML of making alliance with MC in fear of losing election. “UML reached the decision to form leftist alliance after its poor performance in third round local level election. It is the UML’s defeated mentality.” he added.

KATHMANDU, July 17: Dr Ram Sharan Mahat, leader of Nepali Congress, has said that the government should expand the cabinet as soon as possible and focus on amending the constitution so as to make conducive environment for the agitating parties to participate in the polls.

“We cannot dillydally any further on giving shape to the government,” he said while speaking during an interaction program organized by the Reporters’ Club Nepal.

He urged the government to honestly make efforts to endorse the constitution amendment bill before the third round of local level elections. “It is important that the government create favorable environment for the Rastriya Janata Party Nepal (RJPN) to participate in the polls,” he added.

Mahat further said that the all the political parties including the agitating RJPN must accept whatever the result once the bill is put to vote.”The RJPN must accept the outcome. Election is an important opportunity for them.”

Mahat also claimed that the reports of maintaining the electoral constituencies to 240 were just rumors. “Nepali Congress is not in favor of increasing the constituencies.”

He also urged that the government should immediately from Constituency Delineation Commission and  divide the country into 165 constituencies for federal polls as provisioned in the 2015 constitution.

He also drew his party’s attention regarding the unexpected results in the first and second round of local level elections and urged the party leadership to start discussion about this.