KATHMANDU, Jan 23: Main opposition party Nepali Congress lawmaker Min Bahadur Bishwokarma warned that they would not allow the house proceedings until the government decides to give continuity to Girija Prasad Koirala Respiratory Hospital and Sushil Koirala Cancer Hospital, named after two former NC presidents.

After the lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties resorted to scuffle over the tabling of controversial National Medical Education Bill and the issue of two hospitals, the meeting was put off until January 25.

“Of the 11 hospitals proposed to be put under the federal government, the cabinet has endorsed the continuation of nine hospitals except the two hospitals being established in the names of late Girija Prasad Koiral and Sushil Koirala in Tanahu and Banke respectively,” said Bishwokarma at an interaction program organized by Reporters Club Nepal on Wednesday.

“Although the health minister submitted the proposal of 11 hospitals, the cabinet only endorsed nine. The prime minister said that no decisions regarding these two hospitals will be made sooner,” he added. “The government is trying to dissolve the two hospitals being established in the name of two NC leaders.”

“Monmohan Memorial Hospital has been endorsed. I wonder why Girija Hospital and Sushil Koirala Hospital are not?”

Bishwokarma also said that the NC will not let the government table the National Medical Education Bill without addressing Dr Govinda KC’s concerns.

Dr KC has been staging 16^th hunger strike for the past two weeks after the the Education and Health Committee of the legislature parliament endorsed the report on Medical Education Bill against the agreement forged between Dr KC and the government on July 26 last year.

“The government has neglected the agreement reached with Dr KC and has not shown interest for any talks.”

“The government is forcefully trying to endorse the Bill. But we won’t let this happen until the government corrects the Bill. We will not allow the house proceedings until the government revises the controversial decision of the cabinet,” he added.

Bishwokarma also accused Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara of running the parliament business in the interest of the ruling party.

KATHMANDU, Aug 3: Minister for Commerce and Supplieshas called on the business community to invest in productive sector.

During his meeting with a delegation from the Nepal Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, the Minister said he believed that production was the backbone for nation’s economic development and it should be promoted.

Stating that he was fully concerned about the physical and professional security of business community, the Supplies Minister warned that black marketing and tax evasion would not be tolerated under any circumstances. He was of the view of enhancing export to bridge the country’s huge trade deficit.

Chamber President Dr Rajeshkaji Shrestha apprised the Minister that reforms in the commerce policy would automatically ease trade-business activities, calling the Minister to come up with the policy-level reform programs.

The delegation, informing the Commerce Minister about hurdles they are facing in the Rasuwa transit point, urged the Minister to make initiation to revise the Black Marketing Act and Consumer Protection Act. RSS

KATHMANDU, May 7: Nepali Congress leader Min Bahadur Bishwokarma has urged for working in interest of democracy and institutionalizing the achievements of people’s struggle.

Addressing the 1^st anniversary of Mighty Garuda Charitable Trust on Saturday, Leader Bishwokarma, said, “We have succeeded in establishing democracy, republic, federalism, proportional representation and secularism. Next is our responsibility to institutionalize them.”

Also speaking during the program, Reporters’ Club Nepal’s President and senior journalist Rishi Dhamala lauded the outstanding role of Nepali Congress in establishing democracy and federal republic. He, however, expressed his dissatisfaction that NC had failed to move ahead in the path of ”unity and reconciliation’ showed by late BP Koirala.

Journalist Dhamala was of the view that people should cast their votes to change oriented leaders who will work towards better future rather than talk. He said, “21^st century is the era of prosperity and development. All leaders carry agendas of development. But we must only elect change and development oriented in the upcoming local polls.”

He further said that although Nepalese people were successful in bringing several political changes in the country, we have never become able to keep our achievements. He added, “But now time has come that all political parties must reconcile head the country into the path of constitution implementation and constitution implementation as there is no alternative to it.”

Social worker and the Chairperson of the Trust Raju Sunar, on the occasion, handed over instructional materials to as many as 500 students of Chamunda Higher Secondary School, Aruna Higher Secondary School, Siyem Memorial Academy and other schools.

According to Sunar, the educational materials were supported by Noha Philanthropy Trust, which is currently active in Australia and Singapore.

Sunar, who is also the Chair of Noha Philanthropyu Trust, further said that Garuda in coordination with Noha, will distribute educational materials in all districts of the country.