Kathmandu, July 7 : Discussion has been held between Prime Minister and Chairperson of Nepal Communist Party (NCP), KP Sharma Oli, and another chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ at the official residence of the Prime Minister at Baluwatar today. The Chair duo met to settle the internal dispute of the party.

A meeting of standing committee held on July 2 decided to postpone the meeting till July 5 for informal discussion at top level after internal dispute in the party. However, the standing committee meeting called for July 5 has again been postponed till July 8.
The meeting is being held every day after a discussion held between the two chairpersons with some leaders headed in a positive way.

Press coordinator of chair Dahal, Bishnu Sapkota ‘Jugal’, said the progress of today’s meeting has not been available yet.

Misunderstanding between leaders has increased after recent statement of Prime Minister Oli in the standing committee meeting held from June 24. PM Oli had said that India and some leaders in the party have been involved to remove him from the government.

Similarly, the issue of proroguing the budget session of the federal parliament by the government on July 2 has been disputed in the NCP. PM Oli , however, has clarified that there is no any plan to revive the scrapped ordinance related to political parties, allaying doubt among the leaders that PM Oli might revive the ordinance again. He also said that the parliament has been prorogued as it has no business.

Chairman Dahal during his meeting with President Bidya Devi Bhandari has urged not to issue any ordinance without any consultation.

Nepal’s border problem and its solution, overall review of the government, coronavirus prevention and treatment, remaining task of party unification and American Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) compact are the agenda of the standing committee.RSS

KATHMANDU, April 8: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said that a policy has been adopted for moving ahead forging partnership with private sector for industrial progress of the country.

Inaugurating the 16th annual general meeting of the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) on Monday, Prime Minister Oli said that the government would always help the private sector for import substitution and promoting export.

“The government will play role of facilitator in formulating required acts, laws and rules, and in building physical infrastructure for the economic development of the country. So, the investors are encouraged to invest in industrial sector in a transparent manner,” he said stressing on the need to discourage fake transaction, sale of fake VAT bill and non-transparent activities.

Saying the government was determined to encourage and protect domestic industries, the Prime Minister urged not to carry out illegal activities. He expressed commitment to support the private sector in the technology, raw materials and machines, saying politicians, industrialists, entrepreneurs and bureaucracy should now play leadership role.

PM Oli stated that all classes of the society should be active towards the path of progress by resolving the problems for national welfare and economy as environment conducive for industrial and economic activities was building.

“Increase in productivity, employment, strong economy and self-dependent on it is our goal”, he added. On the occasion, the Prime Minister honoured the DHL Express, the Reliance Spinning Mills and the Jagadamba Spinning Mills in recognition of their contribution to the export promotions. Likewise, Balkrishna Shrestha, Shiva Ratan Sharada, Pawan Golyan, Bijaya Shah and CNI former chair Narendra Basnet were awarded the ‘CNI President Honour’.

The Prime Minister also on the occasion launched a collection of feedback relating to the Infrastructure Conference organised by the CNI this year. Finance Minister Dr Yuba Raj Khatiwada said the government was committed to materialising the dream of a prosperous Nepal and the partnership with private sector was in the government priority to advance towards that end.

He added that a way for industrial development was opened and rules and regulations were becoming business-friendly and the pace for administrative reports had been accelerated. “Nepal is in the position of exporting goods and services and atmosphere conducive for the investment is being created.”

CNI founding president Binod Chaudhary said economic development was at the center of national politics, pledging full support to the government for its journey towards the building of a prosperous Nepal. CNI President Haribhakta talked about the contribution of CNI to national economy. The AGM is scheduled to elect a new executive committee today itself. RSS

KATHMANDU, March 24: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said that the government was active to accelerate campaign of development construction by controlling illegal and violent activities.

In today’s meeting of the House of Representatives (HoR), Prime Minister Oli said that the government was eager to resolve the problems through talks.

He further said that it country was moving ahead to fulfill the campaign of ensuring rights to the people.

Saying this year has been considered as the year of big achievements in view of determining basis for challenge and law formulation, the Prime Minister said that governments of three-level have already been formed after holding three-tier of election as per the constitution.

PM Oli said, “We are now able to safeguard political achievements gained in the past”, adding that formulating many laws without differences in the House was not general issue.

He said, “The government will not lag behind to take legal action against those involved in corruption.’ Saying the government was clear regarding the foreign affairs, Prime Minister Oli said that protection and promotion of country’s sovereignty and geographical integrity are government’s basic policy and concept.

He said that the country has made a notable achievements regarding women participation in a short span. The government has also been carrying out activities in order to declare Nepal a fully-literate country within two years, added PM Oli.

Prime Minister Oli said, ‘We have not let allow the food shortage, have saved life of mother and infant by providing air service. Around 800 kilometers of road have been blacktopped.”

Saying paddy production has increased by nine per cent this year, he said that development construction activities have been moving ahead in a speedy manner.

PM Oli further said that the government has been moving ahead in a policy-level manner to link forest with agriculture, adding that remarkable progress has been made in reconstruction sector. RSS

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT TIRTHA PRASAD BHATTARAI

DAVOS (SWITZERLAND), Jan 23: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said Nepal is a country that believes in democracy and where everything is under the Constitution.

“We have brought tremendous changes in the field of democracy by abolishing an autocratic system to establish a federal democratic republic,” he added.

Speaking as a panelist in a session on “Shaping the Future of Democracy” under the 49th meeting of the World Economic Forum here today, Prime Minister Oli said Nepal follows the prime ministerial system with the executive powers resting on the cabinet and Prime Minister.

However, there is no question of centralization of power as we have independent parliament, judiciary and press while the people are sovereign.

Sharing that he fought for democracy for half a century spending many years in prison, Prime Minister Oli said, “I do not want to be a ruler but a servant of the people. I want to extend democracy from the political sphere to bring changes in the life of the people.”

The government is focused to bring change with a focus on good governance and economic development guided by our motto of prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepalis, he added.

In regards to relation with the press, Prime Minister Oli said he has normal relation with the press, as in democracy there is always need for normal relationship. “In autocracy, media is controlled to praise the rulers but in democracy they criticize, which is normal”, he added.

The press is very instrumental to strengthen democracy, to bring prosperity in the lives of the people and to inform accurately and to educate the people. However, people want to see responsible press.

The Prime Minister noted that yellow journalism however was not good, it disturb the things and misleads the people. “In the name of press freedom, if somebody gives false news and hurts others and damages other’s family life, prestige and business then it is not good”, Prime Minister Oli said.

He also cautioned about the likelihood of the younger generation being misled by some social media.

Prime Minister Oli however said there was no intention and no action taken to control or bring restriction to the press. “Press is completely free in Nepal and there is no question of restriction.”

Democracy is a system for all not only for people who are involved in press and hence it must care for the life, prestige and loss and benefit of other people also.

Other speakers in the panel were President of Colombia Iván Duque Márquez, American journalist Arthur Gregg Sulzberger, Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan and Founder and CEO of the Leadership Now Project Daniella Ballou-Aares. The session was moderated by British journalist Martin Harry Wolf. RSS

KATHMANDU, Feb 20: Nepal’s new Prime Minister KP Oli has said he wants to deepen ties with China to explore more options and get more leverage in his dealings with India “in keeping with the times”.

Oli, widely regarded as pro-China, also said he wants to “update” relations with India “in keeping with the times” and favors a review of all special provisions of the Indo-Nepal relations, including the long-established practice of Nepalese soldiers serving India’s armed forces.

“We have great connectivity with India and an open border. All that’s fine and we’ll increase connectivity even further, but we can’t forget that we have two neighbors. We don’t want to depend on one country or have one option,” he told Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post in an interview.

About how he plans to work out relations with India, Oli said, “we’ve always had excellent relations with India. There were some elements in the Indian establishment that caused some misunderstanding, but Indian leaders have assured us that there will be no interference in the future and we will respect each other’s sovereign rights”.

Oli, 65, who had also served as the country’s prime minister from October 11, 2015 to August 3, 2016, was forced to resign following the political crisis over the Madhes issue. Madhesi people had been demanding amendment of the new Constitution to address their concerns over representation in Parliament.

About Nepalese serving in the Indian Army, Oli said, “This should be internally and mutually discussed and corrected, if necessary. We live in a new world, and Nepal is starting a new journey, we have to update whatever is considered outdated and bring it in line with the modern era.”

Oli also said he would revive the China-backed USD 2.5 billion hydropower project which was scrapped by the previous government.

Expectations are high in China about Oli’s government as he signed the Transit Treaty with Beijing during his first stint as Prime Minister in 2015 to end dependence on India to revive the Budhi Gandaki project.

The dam project was scrapped by the previous government headed by Sher Bahadur Deuba citing irregularities.

China has been investing heavily in Nepal, blunting India’s influence.

Oli justified his decision to build the dam with Chinese company saying that “our petroleum usage has been increasing but we import all of it. We urgently need to develop hydropower to reduce our dependence on petroleum.”

He sees infrastructure development as an important means to narrow the distance with China, whose physical remoteness compared with next-door India is a hindrance to deeper Sino-Nepal relations, the paper said.

He also spoke about improving rail and road network between Nepal and China through Tibet.

“Once China brings its rail network up to Shigatse and then Kyirong in Tibet, it should be easy to extend it to Nepal. It’s lower altitude than Tibet, and the terrain is actually sloping all the way down from Kyirong.

“Apart from that, three roads are under construction connecting China and Nepal, which should be ready in a couple of years. If we can connect this railway network to our east-west rail project, it can revolutionize China-India trade, with Nepal in the middle,” he said.

China aims to extend the Qinghai-Tibet railway to the Nepal border by 2020 and has expressed interest in extending it to Kathmandu. Kyirong in Tibet is about 25km from Nepal’s Rasuwagadhi border transit point, which is 50km from Kathmandu. AGENCIES

AMBASSADOR PURI, INDIAN EXTERNAL AFFAIRS MINISTER SWARAJ CONGRATULATE OLI

KATHMANDU, Feb 16: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has congratulated and extended best wishes to the newly elected Prime Minister of Nepal, KP Sharma Oli.

Modi called PM Oli at around 10 pm on Thursday and extended best wishes for his successful tenure as prime minister, according to Ambassador of India to Nepal Manjeev Singh Puri. Modi, on the telephone conversation, pledged to provide all possible cooperation and support in Nepal’s development and prosperity.

Quoting Modi, Ambassador Puri told Reporters’ Club Nepal, “May Nepal achieve economic progress, development and prosperity in Oli’s tenure! India is willing to move ahead cooperating with Nepal and extend special support in development sectors.”

In exchange, Oli said that development and prosperity of Nepal was his prime agenda and added he was eager to further consolidate the positive bilateral ties between Nepal and India.

Oli told his counterpart Modi, “India has always assisted in Nepal’s economic development. I believe that more support will come from India in the days ahead.”

Both the prime ministers, during the telephone conversation, invited each other for a courtesy visit and accepted the request.

Modi, during the conversation, said that he was eager to welcome Oli in India. Oli also invited Modi to Nepal to visit Janakpur and Muktinath temple.

Ambassador Puri said to Rishi Dhamala that the telephone conversation between Oli and Modi was very positive. Puri had reached Oli’s residence at Balkot on Thursday evening to congratulate him and extend best wishes.

According to Puri, Indian EAM Swaraj also called Oli and congratulated him yesterday.

Quoting Swaraj, Puri said, “Nepal will gain economic prosperity in your (Oli’s) leadership. I want to assure you that India will extend every possible support to help Nepal progress and develop.”

On the occasion, Oli also lauded Ambassador Puri’s contribution in strengthening Indo-Nepal bilateral relation and hoped for positive role in the coming days, PM close sources said.

KATHMANDU, Feb 15: CPN-UML Chair KP Oli has been appointed as the 41^st Prime Minister of Nepal on Thursday.

President Bidya Devi Bhandari appointed Oli as the new Prime Minister as per the Article 76 (2).

Article 76 (2) of constitution states that In case no party has a clear majority the House of Representatives under the clause (1)–[which states President shall appoint the leader of a parliamentary party that commands majority in the House of Representatives the Prime Minister]–the President shall appoint as the Prime Minister a member of the House of Representatives who can command majority with the support of two or more parties representative House of Representative.

This is Oli second stint as the Prime Minister. He had served as the 38^th Prime Minister of Nepal from October 11 2015 to 3 August 2016. He was also the second Prime Minister under the new constitution of Nepal.

Earlier in the morning, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, following his address to the nation, had tendered his resignation to President Bidya Devi Bhandari paving way for the formation of new government.

The newly appointed Prime Minister Oli would take his oath of office and secrecy at Sheetal Niwas at 4:00 pm, said President’s Chief Personal Secretary, Bheshraj Adhikari.

KATHMANDU, Feb 15: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has resigned from his post following an address in the name of nation from the Prime Ministers’ residence, Baluwatar on Thursday.

Deuba was elected as the 40^th Prime Minister on June 6 last year with the support from CPN (Maoist Center).

Deuba’s resignation comes after the Election Commission submitted the report of House of Representatives elections under the Proportional Representation category.

With, Deuba stepping down, the left alliance constituents CPN-UML and Maoist Center are preparing to jointly run the new government. An urgent meeting of the UML standing committee on Wednesday had unanimously proposed KP Oli’s name for the prime ministers.

Earlier today, Oli and senior leaders of UML and Maoist Center had reached President’s residence Sital Niwas to claim the PM’s post.

Oli, the chairperson of the largest party UML, will be sworn in as the 41^st prime minister at 4 pm today.

KATHMANDU, Feb 14: CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Center), who are in process of merger, has agreed to rotate party leadership and premiership on Wednesday.

Maoist Center chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, briefing his one-to-one meeting with KP Oli said that they have reached an agreement to lead the proposed united party and government ‘turn by turn’.

The deal is being finalized at a meeting taking place at Maoist Center cadre Sarada Prasad Adhikari’s residence in Manbhawan, Lalitpur.

After the two left parties merge, Prachanda and Oli will have joint leadership in the party and will head the new government in turns.

‘CO-CHAIR MODEL’

Oli, briefing about the meeting, said that they are close to reach deal on co-chair model to run the party jointly.

Earlier, an urgent meeting of the UML standing committee had decided to recommend Oli as the next prime minister.

According to sources, if the two leaders reaches a deal, Oli will head the government for three years and Prachanda will then lead the premiership for two years.

Today’s meeting is also expected to announce the agreement on party merger.

KATHMANDU, Feb 13: CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli has urged the visiting UK Minister of State for the Armed Forces, Mark Lancaster, for promoting British investment for the economic prosperity and development of Nepal.

The UML Chair said so during a meeting with the UK State Minister when the latter paid a courtesy call on him at the UML parliamentary party office in Singha Durbar today.

In reply, the Minister of State Lancaster congratulated Oli on the leftist alliance for becoming victorious in the recently held elections in Nepal and that the UK was positive on increasing investment in Nepal, UML leader Dr Rajan Bhattarai, who was present during the meeting, said.

The UK Minister of State for Armed Forces apprised Chair Oli on the progress made by the joint technical team constituted to study on the retirement benefits of the ex-Gurkha soldiers who served in the British Army. He also assured that there will not be any discrimination against the Gurkha soldiers as Britain and Nepal had established diplomatic relations 202 years ago.

The UK official also urged Nepal to take initiative regarding addressing the problem seen in providing accreditation in Nepal to British students studying chartered accountancy. He also inquired regarding the formation of new government and the left unity process. RSS