KATHMANDU, May 28: The main opposition party Nepali Congress is holding its central committee meeting coming Saturday to discuss the constitution amendment proposal registered in the parliament.

“The party has called the meeting at 1:00 pm Saturday to hold a discussion on constitution amendment proposal at its party office, Sanepa,” said NC central office Chief Secretary Krishna Prasad Paudel.

The central working committee office bearers, central members and invited central members are urged to compulsorily attend the meeting.

Earlier, the meeting of central office-bearers of the party had decided to hold the central working committee meeting to hold adequate discussion on the constitution amendment proposal.

The government had registered a bill on amendment of the constitution (2nd amendment), 2077 in the federal parliament six days back to adjust the map in country’s Coat of Arms (schedule 3 of the constitution) as per the map revised and released recently. RSS

KATHMANDU, May 17: Parliamentary Party leader of main opposition Nepali Congress Sher Bahadur Deuba said the government policy and programs for the upcoming fiscal year 2020/21 lacks proper assessment on the damages to be caused by COVID-19.

In his remarks delivered in today’s House of Representative meeting on the government policy and programs, Deuba accused the government of not being sincere to the sufferings of the citizens.

“The government has no plan to assure the people for future in the time of this crisis. Policy and programs for a year is derailed from its objective and seems like a mere imagination for the multi-year plan,” Deuba said.

On the occasion, Deuba recalled the contribution of frontline health workers, security personnel, media persons and cleaners working during the time of this pandemic.

“I have remembered the patients of other diseases who are facing hardships in getting treatment; small and large industrialists whose industries and trade have been closed; laborers facing difficulties to manage their meals; poor; physically challenged people and single women,” Deuba said in his speech. The former Prime Minister also said that he has remembered the woman from Sindhupalchowk, who died of coronavirus on Thursday, her infant and her family.

Time demands the government to prove itself as a guardian of all, there was an expectation that the government through its policy and programs would address all the above-mentioned issues, but the government failed to meet the expectation, according to Deuba.

Accusing the government of being failed to make enough preparations for the prevention and control of the pandemic, the main opposition leader expressed his concern over what he said the lack of guarantee of personal protection equipment (PPE) for health workers, lack of reliable testing kits, the short supply of medical equipment to hospital, a limited facility of ventilators, no plan of rescuing those Nepalis left stranded along the border areas and bringing them homes safely.

” I want to question the government that what preparations did it make during lockdown?”

He demanded the government make sure the availability of sufficient quantity of medical stuffs, extend the PCR testing coverage and reach it to the community level, come up with relief packages targeting several sectors, make arrangements for bringing those Nepalis in difficulty in abroad to home safely and putting them in quarantine before sending them homes.

The former Prime Minister furthered that some policies and programs were repeated in the new ones which as he claimed reduced the gravity of fresh policy and programs. ”The figure of minimum capital expenditure is mocking at the government, which continues to claim that pace of development is outstanding.”

He said the COVID-19 crisis had its adverse impact on all sectors in the country and it was sure to leave short and long-term consequences, but the policy and programs were not intended towards finding solutions to such problems. ”The government lacks willpower, efficiency, honesty and far-sighted visions to deal with the multidimensional outcomes of the COVID-19 crisis.”

He accused the government of being failed to predict the preliminary losses caused by coronavirus in industries and remittance. The leader claimed the policy and programs were unsuccessful in encouraging those industries deserving relief assistance. As he said, the government has no reliable and new plans to promote export.

He added the tourism industry was one of the sectors badly hit by coronavirus crisis. But, the government presented no policy in regard with the revitalization and promotion of tourism industry. Construction and maintenance of airports was never sufficient for durable and quality development of tourism sector.

Underlining the need of sitting for meaningful and productive talks with neighboring countries to find a solution to the border dispute issues, he urged the government to proceed towards the presentation of the MCC in the parliament. RSS

KATHMANDU, April 21: The main opposition Nepali Congress (NC) has asked the government to withdraw the ordinances related to Political Parties and Constitutional Council introduced on Monday saying the ordinances are against the spirit and aspirations of the Constitution of Nepal.

A meeting of the NC office-bearers at NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba’s residence held this afternoon concluded that the move was an attempt to make the democratic constitution failure while stating that this was the time to fight against the coronavirus amid the stressful period of lockdown.

According to NC’s chief secretary Krishna Prasad Poudel, the meeting has decided to urge all political parties, organizations, civil society, the media and citizens to voice against the ordinances in a unified manner.

Though the constitution has envisioned the ownership in some constitutional appointments, the ordinance has ended that spirit and aspiration as well as the prideful role of constitutional council, read the statement issued by Poudel. RSS

KATHMANDU, April 17: Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba has urged the government to make necessary arrangements for the safe return of people stranded in Kathmandu Valley.

The shutdown of the economy due to nationwide lockdown has forced thousands of people especially workers who depend on daily wages for their living to travel hundreds of kilometers on foot to reach their villages.

“But the government has turned out to be a mere spectator instead of looking after these poor people,” said Deuba on Friday.

“I request the government to immediately arrange food to these migrating people and facilitate their travel so that they could return to their villages safely,” he added.

He has asked the party representatives at local governments to arrange food and accommodation to the traveling people.

लकडाउनको कारण काठमाडौं लगायत विभिन्न क्षेत्रबाट खाना र बस्ने व्यवस्था नभएर पैदल हिडेर घर गइरहेका नागरिकहरुलाई नेपाली #कांग्रेसका स्थानीय तह र पार्टीको भातृ तथा सुवेच्छुक संस्थाका साथिहरुले सामाजिक दुरी कायम गरी आआफ्नो क्षेत्रमा #खाना र राती भए #वासको प्रवन्ध मिलाउन आग्रह गर्दछु।

— Sher Bahadur Deuba (@DeubaSherbdr) April 17, 2020

1/2 काठमाडौंमा श्रम गरिरहेका नागरिकहरु खाना र बस्ने व्यवस्था नुहदा सयौं किलोमीटर पैदल हिंडेर घर गइरहेका छन्।सरकारको भरथेग सबैभन्दा बढि तिनै निमुखा जनतामाथि हुनुपर्ने हो।तर सरकारमा बसेकाहरु ति निमुखाहरुको त्यो यात्राको दर्शक मात्रै भएका छन।

— Sher Bahadur Deuba (@DeubaSherbdr) April 17, 2020

2/2 राजधानीबाट घर जाने ति जनताहरुलाई तत्काल गासवासको प्रवन्ध गरी सुरक्षित ढंगले गाउँ पुर्याउने व्यवस्था मिलाउन म सरकारसँग आग्रह गर्दछु।

— Sher Bahadur Deuba (@DeubaSherbdr) April 17, 2020

The party has also expressed serious concern over the suffering of workers and daily wage earners due to lockdown.

“The government should provide immediately relief to these people who are most affected by the lockdown,” said party Spokesperson Bishwo Prakash Sharma.

“Don’t people traveling on foot on highways have a government?” he wrote on his Facebook page.

KATHMANDU, Feb 23: The shadow government of the main opposition party Nepali Congress held its first meeting on Sunday, nine months after it was formed.

The meeting chaired by party president Sher Bahadur Deuba discussed current politics and the performance of the government, according to NC’s parliamentary party leader of the National Assembly (NA) Surendra Raj Pandey.

The meeting has directed the shadow cabinet to launch an investigation into the recent Gokul Baskota commission deal in the procurement process of the security printing press and other corruption charges against the government.

Baskota resigned on Thursday after he was caught bargaining for Rs 700 million commission with a Swiss company agent in a leaked audio conversation.

The shadow government has also called a joint meeting of the opposition parties of the parliament to discuss and decide on how to proceed with the upcoming house meeting. 

KATHMANDU, Feb 23: Gokul Baskota’s Rs 700 million commission deal controversy is just an episode of the government’s institutionalized corruption, said Nepali Congress leader Prakash Saran Mahat.

The government led by Nepal Communist Party Chair K P Sharma Oli is under a huge pressure from public and opposition parties after former minister Gokul Baskota’s bargain for 70 percent share out of Rs 700 million commission over the planned procurement of security printing press worth Rs 27 billion came out in the open in the form of an audio recording.

Baskota resigned from his post as Minister for Communication and Information Technology on Thursday hours after the audio leak following public pressure. 

But it is not enough. The bribe deal controversy from PM’s Oli’s most favorite and trusted minister is a serious blow to the prime minister’s dictum of “corruption-free society”.

“The security printing press scam is clear proof of the government’s institutionalized corruption. Baskota’s audiotape controversy is just an episode,” said Mahat speaking a face-to-face interaction program organized by the Reporters’ Club Nepal on Sunday.

“The Baskota controversy has made people think if they did a great mistake election the Nepal Communist Party in the election.”

“The “Zero-tolerance to corruption” is only limited to slogans. It has been proved,” Mahat added.

Many believe the prime minister himself is involved in the security printing press scam since he did not think it important to initiate action against Baskota if even after being aware of the Rs 700 million commission deal.

Swiss company agent Bijaya Prakash Mishra, who is believed to have leaked the audio and was involved in the audio conversation himself, has revealed he had told the prime minister about the audio.

“Baskota was directed from above and is protected. A serious and fair investigation should be launched into it. 

“The prime minister should shoulder the responsibility and answer to the parliament about the Baskota controversy,” he added.

KATHMANDU, Feb 20: The main opposition party Nepali Congress has demanded the government that Minister of Communication and Information Technology, Gokul Baskota be sacked immediately.

The NC’s demand comes in the wake of the leaked audio recording of the conversation between Minister Baskota and Swiss Company local agent Bijaya Prakash Mishra, where the minister is heard bargaining for Rs 700 million in commission over the procurement of security printing press for the government.

“Since the audio recording of the minister bargaining for Rs 700 million commission has already been made public, we publicly appeal Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli to immediately sack Minister Baskota and help in a fair investigation,” said the NC in a press release on Thursday.

NC student wing Nepal Student Union has also demanded the government sack Baskota and take legal action against him.

KATHMANDU, Feb 7: The main opposition party Nepali Congress sister wings Nepal Tarun Dal and Nepal Student Union has staged a demonstration at Maitighar Mandala protesting the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) decision to indict their leader and party Deputy-Parliamentary Party leader Bijay Kumar Gachhadar in the Lalita Niwas land grab scam while giving amnesty to the “accused”.

The CIAA on Wednesday filed a charge-sheet against 175 individuals including Gachhadar and three former ministers accusing at the special court accusing them of involvement in transferring the land at Lalita Niwas in Baluwatar illegally to the name of various individuals. Currently, about 65 different individuals own the land there.

However, Bishnu Paudel, whose son owns eight annas of land and former Supreme Court Justice Kumar Regmi who owns two plots at Lalita Niwas were given amnesty. Former Prime Ministers Madhav Kumar Nepal and Dr. Babu Ram Bhattarai were also not implicated as the cabinet decisions, according to the CIAA, do not fall under their jurisdiction.

The NC has said the CIAA’s investigation is “heavily influenced by the government” and the graft case against Gachhadar is “an act of political vengeance”. 

Protesting the CIAA’s “biased” decision, the NC obstructed the House of Representatives on Thursday and Friday as well.

Photos: Mukunda Kalikote/Reporters’ Club Nepal

KATHMANDU, Feb 7: The main opposition party Nepali Congress has obstructed the House of Representatives meeting Friday as well, protesting the CIAA decision not to file corruption case against former Prime Ministers Madhav Kumar Nepal and Dr. Baburam Bhattarai, Nepal Communist Party General Secretary Bishnu Paudel and former Supreme Court justice Kumar Regmi in the Lalita Niwas land grab scam.

The CIAA on Wednesday filed a charge-sheet against 175 individuals including Nepali Congress Deputy-Parliamentary Leader Bijay Kumar Gachhadar and three former ministers accusing them of illegally transferring the land at Lalita Niwas to the name of various individuals but did not charge sheet Nepal, Bhattarai, Paudel and Regmi.

The anti-graft body has stated it gave amnesty to Paudel and Regmi since Paudel’s son Navin and Regmi had promised to return the land to the government, while Nepal and Bhattarai were not charged as the cabinet decisions do not fall under their jurisdiction.

“The CIAA itself has misused the authority. How can CIAA not file a case against prime minister whose cabinet made the decision but indict a minister over the same case?,” said Min Bahadur Bishwakarma.

“How can the CIAA conclude Paudel and Regmi innocent just because they promised to return the land?”

“The CIAA’s decision to implicate Gachhadar is heavily influenced by the government,” he reiterated.

As soon as Bishwakarma completed his statement, the NC lawmaker stood from their seats. Despite Speaker’s frequent request to the lawmaker to sit down and allow House business, the kept standing forcing Speaker Sapkota to halt the meeting for half an hour.

KATHMANDU, Feb 6: Samajbadi Party Federal Council Chair Dr. Baburam Bhattarai said he is feeling “uncomfortable” the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) filed a charge sheet against former ministers but spared former Prime Minister and ruling Nepal Communist Party senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal in the Lalita Niwas land grab scam.

After the CIAA on Wednesday filed case against 175 individuals including Nepali Congress Vice-President and former Deputy Prime Minister Bijay Kumar Gachhadar, former ministers Chandra Dev Joshi, Chhabiraj Pant and Dambar Shrestha charging them of illegally transferring the land in Baluwatar to the name of various private owners, Dr. Bhattarai took to twitter to express his discomfort.

“I welcome the CIAA move but it is full of errors and incompleteness. I feel uncomfortable that the anti-graft body has found former ministers guilty but not former PMs,” said Bhattarai.

Gachhadar was the Physical Planning minister under the Madhav Kumar Nepal-led government and Basnyat the secretary at his ministry when the land was transferred to various individuals and fake tenants.

But the CIAA has said that the cabinet decisions—which paved way for the illegal transfer of the Lalita Niwas land in private ownership—could not be investigated as these do not fall under their jurisdiction.

The CIAA also filed a case against former secretary Dinesh Hari Adhikari, Bhat-Bhateni Supermarket owner Min Bahadur Gurung, businessman Shobhakanta Dhakal and other individuals. However, ruling Nepal Communist Party General Secretary Bishnu Paudel and former Supreme Court Chief Justice Kumar Justice Kumar Regmi were untouched because, according to the anti-graft body, they have promised to return the land.