“NOTHING WILL HAPPEN TO ME FOR THE NEXT 20 -25 YEARS SO SAYS MY DOCTOR, I AM NOT SICK”

KATHMANDU, Aug 16: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has made a remarkable and steady improvement in his health.

Since feeling better he has resumed his official duties meeting with workers and party cadres of Jhapa-5 at this official residence in Baluwatar.

Currently, he is participating in a meeting at the central office of the Communist Party of Nepal.

PM Oli had visited Singapore last week for a routine health check-up. He was checked at the National University Hospital. His cadres had come all the way from Jhapa to inquire about his well being.

He had informed his cadres that he was well and that he had slight fever ranging from 99-100 Fahrenheit, but after taking medications paracetamol he was feeling much better.  “People are spreading unnecessary rumors regarding my health he stated”.

Party workers and Cadres of Constituency 5 from Jhapa had paid a special visit regarding the development work for the region. He had also provided them information regarding his health.

“I was in Singapore for my health check-up and this time from my ears, neck, fingers, and nails, everything was thoroughly checked. Nothing will happen to me for the next 20-25 years so says my Doctor, I am not sick” said the PM.

KATHMANDU, Aug 12: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has returned home on Monday following his health checkups in Singapore.

The PM had been Singapore on August 3 for his regular health checkups where he took medical tests at the National University Hospital.

Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara, chairperson of the National Assembly Ganesh Prasad Timilsina, Deputy Prime Minister Ishwor Pokharel, Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa, Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali and Nepal Communist Party general secretary Bishnu Prasad Poudel among others reached Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) and welcomed PM Oli at TIA’s VVIP lounge.

Ministers, lawmakers and NCP leaders and cadres also reached TIA to welcome the PM. His health test started from August 4 and lasted a week.

He was accompanied by a nine-member entourage including his spouse Radhika Shakya, his chief political advisor Bishnu Prasad Rimal, private doctor Dibya Singh Shah and personal secretary Rajesh Bajracharya. RSS

Photos: Mukunda Kalikote

KATHMANDU, July 28: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has again called upon the investors across the world to invest in Nepal.

In his address to the ‘India Nepal Logistics Summit’ that kicked off in the capital on Sunday, the PM said the government had already created an investment-friendly atmosphere at home by removing legal, institutional and procedural hurdles, so that investors could invest here confidently.

An act relating to make provisions for the public-private partnership and investment, and another act on foreign investment and technology transfer had been implemented.

A single point service center had already come into operation for the convenience of investors.

“We call upon investors across the world including in India to invest in Nepal,” he stressed.

The PM went on to say that a government with political stability had been formed; an investment-friendly environment had been enabled and economic development and prosperity taken as a common goal of all and Nepal remained as the accessible and reliable destination for investment.

He added that expansion of road network were accorded top priority, and works for the operation of railway and water transportation were going on.

“Customs system has been further systematized with the application of information technology. Business community has been provided a better atmosphere for trade and commerce.”

An integrated customs office had already come into operation in Birgunj in a bid to systematize the customs system additionally and such type of office would come into operation in Biratnagar after some time.

Stating that reducing the country’s ballooning trade deficit remained as one of the special priorities of the government, he said the expansion of road network had been focused.

Efforts were on to intervene in the growing trade deficit through the regional and sub-regional organisations including BBIN, SAARC and BIMSTEC.

The incumbent government has already established a ship office to add the means of transportation and a process initiated for the railway construction, according to the PM.

He informed that roads along the Nepal-India border were widened and the import and transport of cargo made easier with the improvement of highways in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh of India.

The PM further made it clear that government had forwarded clear thoughts, policy and programs to graduate Nepal to the status of middle income by 2030, and the plans on sustainable would be fulfilled.

The last fiscal year witnessed nearly 7 percent economic growth rate. This with the social security program has created atmosphere for the industrial investment and improvement on labor relations, he argued.

PM Oli urged the foreign investors to invest in the prioritized areas of government as agriculture, tourism, physical infrastructures and energy and utilize the business-friendly climate.

The import and exports of electricity were possible from various seven points in addition to the Dhalkebar-Mujaphphapur interstate transmission line.

The Dhalkebar-Mujaphphapur interstate transmission line would be upgraded to 400 KV.

Priority was placed on expansion of air connectivity linking various destinations in India as well, he added.

On the occasion, Secretary at the Ministry of Commerce and Supply, Kedar Bahadur Karki, said Nepal and India were working jointly to solve the problems relating to cargo and logistics.

FNCCI Chairperson Bhawani Rana expressed her belief that coming days would be more comfortable and convenient in business as the government had given priority to the expansion of air, road and water connectivity between the countries. Similarly, Indian Ambassador to Nepal, Manjiv Singh Puri, reminded that both the Prime Ministers from Nepal and India had jointly inaugurated the Integrated Customs Post at Birgunj.

Similar inaugural would be in Biratnagar soon, which would help add new dimension in the two-country trade relations.

According to him, the construction of the Motihari-Amlekhgunj Petroleum Pipeline had completed and the cargo and logistics sectors eased.

Various industrialists, entrepreneurs and those working in cargo and logistics from both Nepal and India participated in the program. RSS

KATHMANDU, July 11: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said he would look into the matter wherein he was reportedly not informed of the letter from Indian embassy in relation to pesticide test in Indian imported fruits and vegetables.

Inaugurating the national workshop organised by Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration in the capital on Thursday, Prime Minister Oli clarified that the government started testing vegetables and fruits for pesticides imported from India with an objective of providing pesticide free food items.

He added that pesticide residue test was not against anyone, it was only for bringing pesticide-free food items to the Kitchen of Nepali people.

Saying healthy, effective, transparent and service-oriented administrative service would be provided, Prime Minister Oli said, “The administration sector should carry out work in a smooth and easy manner.”

The PM said, “Some of the people have described state as a separate autonomous body. This is not the fact. State is a body of the independent nation regulated by the federal government.”

He clarified that there is a provision that issues related to security, international affairs and financial resources would be looked after by the federal government. RSS

KATHMANDU, June 30: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said modernization of agriculture was imperative to reduce unemployment in the country.

Modernization of agriculture creates new jobs, so improvement and commercialization in agriculture is the present need, he added.

Inaugurating the National Labor and Employment Conference 2019 in the capital on Sunday, PM Oli said, “Nepal’s agriculture is traditional- production is low, land small and unorganized. So, with modernization, people need to be attracted to agriculture. Agriculture needs to boost industry and trade.”

Mentioning that a large number of youths was bound to leave the country for lack of jobs here, he urged all concerned to retain youths, creating attractive jobs- dignified work, proper wage. Employment is not a mere occupying in a work but creating jobs for others too, the PM stressed.

According to the PM, the time has come for ensuring jobs to educated people. The educational certificate must be a tool to solve the unemployment problem. Education useful to life is essential.

WANT TO WORK TOGETHER WITH OPPOSITION.

The government is yearning for development by working together with the opposition.

“The country is common, we need to work by collaborating with the opposition,” he said, wondering, “The opposition might not have liked the government. But, can’t we work together for development?”

The government wants to free people from poverty and paucity.

“We must not make the future generation face the same difficulty we have. I ensure the utmost positive results during my tenure. I’ve a resolution for change,” PM Oli committed.

He believed that the conference would identify problems in the employment sector and recommend a suggestion for the solution.

On the occasion, Minister for Labor, Employment and Social Security, Gokarna Bista, said it was a challenging task to make the informal sector formal since a majority of the employment sector was in the informal sector.

Stating that the development of technology, climate change and demographic change had affected the world’s labor market in a new way, Bista underscored the need to move forward in a new day to tackle the growing burgeoning challenges.

According to him, the government had declared to provide employment opportunities to additional 500,000 people in the current fiscal year for which he pressed for collaboration among the local, provincial and federal government as well as the private sector for job creations in the country.

Similarly, Nepali Congress leader and former Minister Ramesh Lekhak opined that if the conference would help identify the prospects of employment opportunities in the country, it would create jobs for those yearning for betterment.

Lekhak pressed for promoting domestic employment to replace foreign employment. He spoke of the need to promote industrialization and attract foreign investment in the country.

The leader from the major opposition party said, “Nepali Congress would support every positive program that the government forwards.” Secretary at the Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Security Mahesh Prasad Dahal said during the two-day conference, discussions would be held on various aspects of employment, Nepali labor market, work culture, entrepreneurship of Nepali youths and development of skills for employment among others. RSS

KATHMANDU, June 19: On Tuesday, immediately after finishing his speech at a press conference in Singha Durbar, Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli was seen pointing fingers at Reporters’ Club Nepal President Rishi Dhamala and telling him something.

The video has gone viral in social media. What did the prime minister tell Dhamala?

PM Oli, on the eve of the massive gathering in protest of the Bill, had organized the press meet expressing concern over the main opposition party Nepali Congress’ activity in the parliament, who earlier had picketed the rostrum during a meeting of the House of Representatives and blocked the prime minister from addressing the meeting. The prime minister was supposed to brief about the parliament about his recent Europe visit and about the Guthi Bill.

The ruling Nepal Communist Party leaders have said NC’s activity at the parliament on Tuesday afternoon was an attack on the parliamentary practice.

Following the public pressure and NC obstruction, the Ministry for Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation earlier in the Tuesday afternoon had withdrawn the Guthi Bill which the government had registered at the National Assembly a few days ago.

It was a serious blow to the iron image of PM Oli who commands a two-third majority at the parliament. Although almost all the bills introduced by the government faced controversy and widespread protests, the Guthi Bill was the first instance of a withdrawal of a bill under pressure from the streets.

After finishing his speech, PM Oli was about to leave. When senior journalist Dhamala approached him, Oli pointed finger at him. He looked serious.

“Why did you say the bill attacked the tradition and culture?” Oli told Dhamala, who also hosts one of the most popular television talk show Janata Janna Chahanchan on Prime Times television.

PM Oli in the press meet had clarified that the Guthi Bill was introduced to protect the culture, religion and century-old tradition. He had further clarified that the proposal to form the Guthi Authority was not aimed at running the administration of Guthi property.

“It is not like that prime minister jyu,” Dhamala replied politely and smiling.

“I have seen the interviews,” Oli replied and left.

Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Ishwor Pokharel, who was also present at the meeting, smiled at Dhamala while Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa looked serious.

KATHMANDU, May 31: Amid the rise of a fresh debate within the ruling party Nepal Communist Party on who will head the government next following a leakage of ‘secret five point agreement reached between the former CPN (UML) and CPN (Maoists) before their merger a year ago, Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli has said that he has a positive relation with chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’.

The secret agreement states that the two chairmen of the ruling party “will lead the government based on equality for equal periods of time”, reported Republica.

The agreement was signed by then UML Chair Oli, then Maoist Center Chair Dahal, Bishnu Paudel and Janardan Sharma who were involved in coordination between the two party chiefs, it further said.

“I have a good and positive relationship with chair Dahal. The term of my premiership will be decided in agreement with Dahal, Oli clarified talking to Rishi Dhamal from New Delhi. PM Oli is in New Delhi to attend to the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Various reports have suggested that the documents was leaked by Maoist leaders to put pressure on Oli to remain clear on power-sharing issues.

A day before the leak of the secret agreement, Dahal in a television interview Janata Janna Chahanchan had told Dhamala he was confident Oli will respect the agreement on heading the party and the government turn-by-turn since both the co-chairs are firm on the understanding.

He had said he was optimistic about getting the premiership or the party leadership (through upcoming party general election) once PM Oli completes two-and-half years at the office. The incumbent government was formed in February last year.

KATHMANDU, April 25: Main opposition party Nepali Congress leader Ram Chandra Paudel has said that Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli has cunning and deceptive personality.

Talking to Reporters’ Club Nepal President Rishi Dhamala in a television talk show Janata Janna Chahanchan, he said, “The prime minister accused the Nepali Congress of joining hands with reactionary forces. He is blaming the opposition in order to cover his mistakes.”

“PM Oli is as cunning as a fox. He is very clever. But he cannot hide his mistakes,” he added.

“The prime minister is trying to put democracy into danger. But Nepali Congress will not remain silent,” he added.

He also said that the internal disputes within the Nepali Congress will be resolved soon.

KATHMANDU, March 22: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said both government and private sectors should build a common understanding on business and investment issues to make the upcoming investment summit a success. Addressing the meeting of the Industry and Commerce Promotion Dialogue Council in Singh Durbar this evening, PM Oli viewed that additional efforts from the private sectors would be meaningful for the success of summit.

He also directed the concerned authorities to ensure necessary arrangement for the summit, according to Secretary at PM’s Office, Sishir Kumar Dhungana.

Quoting PM Oli, Secretary Dhungana said, “Some elements are trying to destabilize the situation. But government takes action on those who involve in extortion, loot and violence.”

The meeting discussed thoroughly on how the summit could be utilized as a moment to ensure practical takeaway rather than making mere commitments. The Council was formed to foster public-private interaction to augment business and investment atmosphere in the country. It has prepared concrete topic wise agenda on infrastructure, agriculture, tourism, energy among others.

On the occasion, Chairman of the Confederation of Nepalese Industry, Haribhakta Sharma, said discussion was held on how the coming investment summit could be utilized to work for economic development and prosperity. He further hoped the summit would help attract foreign investors.

The meeting was also attended by Finance Minister, Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Vice-Chairman of the National Planning Commission, Chief Executive of Nepal Investment Board, and representatives of FNCCI, CNI and other business organizations. RSS

BIRATNAGAR, March 17: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said the Council of Ministers would be given full shape in right time. Talking briefly to media persons at Biratnagar airport on Sunday, PM Oli made it clear that Cabinet was not being reshuffled but getting full shape.

Also the Chairperson of Nepal Communist Party, PM Oli argued that Biplab-led group was indulging in murder, violence, loot, vandalism, so its activities were curbed.

As the Biplav group is a mere cluster which is nowhere registered but conducting illegal activities, it was prevented to do so anymore, he said, making it clear that only any organization registered at any government office is banned.

“Government does not banter. It not only rules out but also controls any group spreading panic among public with murder, violence and terror,” PM Oli said to a clear indication to Biplab-led group.

He wondered why leaders of Nepal’s democratic parties were making hue and cry over while ruling out the Biplab group. It is not wise to respond everything, he commented. The PM further asserted that not any of Biplab’s demand could suit democratic society.

Moreover, the PM asserted that the forces advocating for separatism and disintegration was now no more in Nepal. He urged one and all to know why some leaders were making fuss again when CK Raut opted for active politics by accepting the constitution. RSS