‘GOVT HASN’T BANNED POLITICAL ACTIVITIES OF CHAND GROUP’

KATHMANDU, March 18: The government, in a dramatic turn of events, recently took two significant political decisions: 11-point agreement with Alliance for Independent Madhesh (AIM) led by CK Raut and restriction on activities of Communist Party of Nepal (CPN) led by Netra Bikram Chand ‘Biplav’.

But the government’s unexpected deal faced criticisms and support, heating a fresh debate within the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) and among other political forces including the main opposition Nepali Congress (NC).

A portion of leaders of the ruling party were discontent over the government’s step to bring Raut into the national politics and the content of agreement reached with Raut, who is accused of leading a separatist campaign. The unhappy leaders, who accused the government of signing the deal in non-transparent manner, also pointed out that Raut has not mentioned anywhere that he has quit his secessionist movement.

Opposition NC sought either revision or explanation of the phrase in agreement No 2 which states ‘people’s mandate in a democratic manner’–which NC referred as “call for referendum.”

On the other hand, Raut‘s supporters celebrated the agreement as their victory—which, according to researcher Suman Mandal, bought freedom and relief to Raut, who was arrested a dozen times since 2014 for sedition and treason; and the agreement legitimately allowing AIM to freely exercise their activities.

Reporters’ Club Nepal President Rishi Dhamala caught up with NCP General Secretary Bishnu Paudel to talk about these issues. Excerpt:

Why is there discontent within the ruling party? Why could not the government make this deal non-debatable?

First and foremost, the agreement with CK Raut, which brought the secessionist campaigner to national mainstream politics, is a significant decision. In the agreement Raut has accepted federal republic Nepal as independent, autonomous and sovereign country. Raut’s alliance will now exercise his activities remaining within the framework of constitution and democratic methods. The government’s move will be successful.

Next, no issue is undebatable if brought as a subject of argument. Is it wrong to make Raut sign on the agreement that saves the country from disintegration? He has agreed to abide by law and constitution of the country and get involved in politics peacefully. If this is wrong, what is right then?

Has Raut abandoned secessionist movement?

Of course, he has. It is the main point of the agreement.

Will the agreement be implemented?

The agreement has been done for implementing. Both the government and Raut cannot step away from agreement. If Raut breaches the agreement, he will not be spared.

Why did the government decide to restrict Chand’s group’s activities? It is a repression policy?

Of course not! The government formed a negotiation committee in the leadership of Som Prasad Pandey. The committee made several efforts to bring Chand group to formal talk with the government…but no avail. The Chand group rejected the talks appeal and continued carrying out its violent activities which threatened the civil’s right to live freely and peacefully. Therefore, the government imposed ban on Chand’s activities. It’s the government’s duty to bring such groups within the constitutional boundary.

Does the constitution allow ban on any group?

We have banned Chand’s activities. We have disallowed violence and murder. Not the political activities of Chand group.

Is the government prepared to mobilize the army?

Such condition will not occur. The government will protect the constitutional right of every citizen to live peacefully.

Kamal Thapa-led Rastriya Prajatantra Party has demanded restoration of monarchy and reinstatement of Nepal as Hindu state. How will the government address RPP’s demand?

The government will remain flexible to each and every demands raised within the legal framework. The constitution has already recognized Nepal as a republic state.

KATHMANDU, May 18: Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Chairman Kamal Thapa said the youth organization must forward the party’s agendas including the subject of Hinduism as state religion.

At an interaction on ‘Present Issue, Party’s Condition and Youths’ Role’ held here today by RPP’s sister wing, National Democratic Youth Organization,  Thapa said the youths can play an important role in creating a prosperous country. He added that country’s development and prosperity can be maintained by bracing the traditional values and norms.

He also expressed concern over the privatization of the industries and their destruction during the people’s war, and compulsion of some 547,000 youths to head to Middle East to find work.

Stating that youths have an important role to play in establishing the party’s agendas of constitutional monarchy and Hinduism as state religion, the RPP Chairman urged them to commit themselves in building the organization. Thapa was of the view that the country’s final alternatives were Hindu nation and monarchy. RSS

KAHTMANDU, Nov 10: Bikram Bahadur Thapa, minister for Woman, Children and Social Welfare has claimed that the democratic alliance will be victorious in the upcoming parliamentary and province assembly election. Thapa is a Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) candidate for House of Representatives election from Kathmandu constituency-7.

Speaking during an interaction program organized by the Reporters’ Club Nepal on Friday, leader Thapa said, “Polarization between the two alliances (democratic and left) has created a new political wave in the country, and the voters are closely analyzing it. It is time for the voters to use their maximum intelligence while choosing a candidate.”

“The voters will choose democratic alliance over left alliance.” Thapa expressed his confidence adding, “There is no alternative to democratic alliance.”

“The Nepali Congress-led alliance will comfortably garner majority in the polls,” he added.

“People have seen the 10-year long war and CPN-UML led government. Therefore, people are in support of a stable and trustable government—which is possible only though the victory of democratic alliance.”

Thapa also claimed that he would win in constituency-7 of Kathmandu district. He said, “People have realized that it will be a mistake to choose the previously elected leader again. It is because they know that previous leaders could not fulfill their promise.”

“The voters are looking for new leader in the constituency. They will elect me,” he added.

Moreover, the RPP candidate Thapa has also support from Nepali Congress in the constituency. Meanwhile, the CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Center) alliance has fielded Ram Bir Manandhar as a common candidate of the left alliance againt Thapa.

KATHMANDU, Nov 3: The Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) is prioritizing ‘democracy with king’ in its election manifesto.

Party spokesman Bhuwan Pathak said the party was going to include the constitutional monarchy in the form of ‘change with continuity’ in its manifesto that it is preparing in view of the House of Representatives and State Assembly elections due on November 26 and December 7 this year.

Pathak said the party leaders and cadres have suggested that the party should state the principle of monarchy as its conceptual views in the election manifesto that is in the process of preparation.

Reinstating Nepal as a Hindu nation has also been prioritized in the manifesto, Pathak said, adding that the party had since its inception adopted Nepal as a Hindu, unitary state with constitutional monarchy as its long-term tactical line.

According to him, the party’s election manifesto will also prioritize economic liberalism with the policy of making the production and the distribution system accessible to all the people in a just manner.

Likewise, Pathak said the party’s election manifesto will prioritize the need for the State to provide special protection to the backward areas and marginalized classes and for the respect of individual freedom and right to property. RSS

KATHMANDU, Oct 23: The Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) has finalized its candidates contesting the first phase of the House of Representatives elections on November 26 from five places. The RPP candidates would be vying in the election on behalf the Democratic Alliance.

Accordingly, party chairman Kamal Thapa will be contesting from Makwanpur-2, vice-chairman Rajib Parajuli from Parsa-2, general secretary Rajendra Lingden from Jhapa-3, Kunti Kumari Shahi from Dailekh-1 and Bikram Thapa from Kathmandu-7.

Party spokesperson Bhuwan Pathak said that the Democratic Alliance has agreed to give seven election constituencies to the RPP and selection of the candidates in the remaining two constituencies still remains to be decided upon.

The RPP has so far fielded the candidacy of Sonam Tamang from Dhading (B) constituency, Ganesh Chand from Baitadi (B) constituency, Bhim Prasad Gauchan from Myagdi (A) constituency to contest the State Assembly election from the Democratic Alliance.

The RPP is also organizing election assemblies in all the seven provinces, party spokesman Pathak said. RSS

KATHMANDU, Oct 15: Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) has directed the newly appointed ministers from the party to focus on the House of Representatives and State Assemblies elections while discharging their duty.

The RPP’s central work execution committee meeting held at the party central office in Dhumrabarahi on Sunday also extended best wishes for their successful tenure as ministers.

Also, the meeting formed a committee to pick poll candidates from all seven provinces under both the first-past-the-post and proportional representative systems.

RPP Chairman Kamal Thapa has recently been appointed Deputy Prime Minister, while other leaders Jayanta Chand, Dilnath Giri, and Bikram Bahadur Thapa were appointed to look after ministries without portfolio.

Likewise, Kunti Kumari Shahi, Sushil Kumar Shrestha, Bhashkar Bhadra and Kanta Bhattarai were appointed minister of state without portfolio. RSS

KATHMANDU, Oct 13: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba is all set to expand his cabinet inducting eight ministers from Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP).

PM Deuba has alredy sent a letter to the Office of the President on Friday in connection with expanding the Council of Ministers, according to Baluwatar sources.

A letter recommending RPP chairman Kamal Thapa to the post of Deputy Prime Minister and leaders Jayanta Chand, Dilnath Giri and Bikram Thapa as ministers in the present Council of Ministers has been sent to the  president, according to the Prime Minister’s private secretariat.

Similarly, Kunti Kumari Shahi, Sushil Kumar Shrestha, Bhaskar Bhadra and Kanta Bhattarai have been recommended as Ministers of State.

The Office of the President stated that although the program for administering the oath of office and secrecy to the nominees has been said to be held on Saturday, it was not yet fixed.

HETAUDA, Oct 13: Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Chairperson Kamal Thapa has been unanimously recommended from his party to contest the election of the House of Representatives from Makawanpur district constituency-1.

A special meeting of the RPP Makawanpur Chairperson Ganesh Thapa decided to pick RPP Chair Thapa from Makawanpur in coming election, shared RPP central joint general secretary Rajaram Bartaula. RSS

ILAM, Oct 13: Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), Ilam has recommended candidates for the elections to the House of Representatives and State Assemblies to be held on coming November and December.

RPP has recommended Yograj Lamichhane as a candidate from Ilam Constituency-1 and Lal Bahadur Dangi from Constiteuncy-2 to contest the House of Representatives election under the first-past-the-post category.

Likewise, the party has recommended Indra Kumar Lama and Rishikesh Ojha from Constituency 1 for the State Assemblies under the first-past-the-post category and Leela Devi Shrestha and Ganesh Bahadur Chauhan under the proportional representation category.

According to RPP Ilam Chairperson, the party has recommended Nasib Rai and Pratap Chapagain for State Assemblies from the Constituency-2 under PPTP category while Dig Bahadur Koirala, Maya Chauhan, Jeevan Pandey and Damodar Dahal have been recommended as candidates for the House of Representatives under proportional representation category. RSS

BIRATNAGAR, Oct 10: Chairman of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party, Kamal Thapa, has said that the RPP has supported the incumbent government for the stability of the incumbent government.

Talking to media persons at Biratnagar Airport on Tuesday, Chairman Thapa clarified that the RPP supported the incumbent government thinking the incumbent government might be in minority and instability could surface in the country after the leftist alliance.

He said that his party decided for election alliance with the Nepali Congress and other parties to strengthen nationality and democracy as well as to improve economic condition of the country.

Also the former Deputy Prime Minister, Thapa demanded conduction of referendum to collect people’s mandate on the issue of Hindu nation in upcoming elections.

Responding to a query over leftist alliance, Chairman Thapa, taking the leftist alliance positively, expressed possibility of long-lasting effect in country’s future. RSS