Tradition of demanding resignation not good: PM Dahal
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal said that the tradition to demand the resignation of the Prime Minister, Home Minister and Finance Minister for political reasons was not good.
Speaking at a press conference organized at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu upon his return from Italy today, PM Dahal said that the major opposition's obstruction in Parliament demanding the Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister's resignation was not a good thing.
Dahal said that he would further clarify on this matter after holding discussions with the Deputy Prime Minister and ministers. "The tradition of unilaterally demanding resignation without offering a chance for furnishing clarification is not good," the PM reiterated.
The PM, who represented Nepal in the UN Food Systems Summit +2 Stocktaking Moment organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization from June 24 to July 28, said that Nepal's participation in the event was important in itself.
The Summit was important to further establish Nepal's presence and status in the international community.
On a different note, he said that the government had made necessary efforts to control the lumpy skin disease spreading rapidly in cattle.
Millions of cattle have been administered vaccines against the viral disease, he said.
PM Dahal invites UN Secretary General Guterres to visit Nepal
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has invited United Nations (UN) Secretary General Antonio Guterres to visit Nepal.
PM Dahal said that he extended an invitation to visit Nepal to Secretary General Guterres while returning home from Rome, Italy after taking part in a program of the United Nations.
Speaking to journalists at the Tribhuvan International Airport, PM Dahal said that United Nations Secretary General Guterres will visit Nepal soon.
“I have extended an invitation to the Secretary General of the United Nations to visit Nepal. He will visit Nepal soon,” the PM said.
On the sidelines of the event, Prime Minister Dahal had held a meeting with the UN Secretary General in Rome.
During the meeting, they discussed Nepal-UN relations, Nepal’s contribution to establish world peace, climate change and food security among other issues.
Hikmat Karki reinstated as acting chief minister of Koshi Province
CPN-UML province Parliamentary Party leader Hikmat Kumar Karki has been reinstated as the acting chief minister of Koshi Province.
He will assume the office today itself.
Karki was appointed as the acting chief minister after the Supreme Court removed Congress province Parliamentary Party leader Uddhav Thapa from the post of chief minister.
He will work as the chief minister till August 2.
Earlier on Thursday, the apex court had ordered province Chief Parshuram Khapung to proceed with the process to appoint a new chief minister by August 2 while annulling the appointment of Thapa.
Karki, who is in Kathmandu, will head towards Biratnagar after some time to take charge of the office.
With Karki’s reinstatement, the ministers in the government under his leadership will also take over the responsibility of the ministries.
In the UML-led government, Buddhi Kumar Raj Bhandari was the Minister for Social Development and Tourism, Forest and Environment, Til Kumar Menyangbo Minister for Drinking Water, Irrigation and Energy and Health.
Similarly, Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) province Parliamentary Party leader Bhakti Prasad Sitaula is the Minister for Industry, Agriculture and Cooperatives and Physical Infrastructure Development.
Karki was appointed as the chief minister for the second time on January 8, 2023.
The Karki-led government fell after losing the vote of confidence in Parliament on June 30.
After that, province Chief Parshuram Khapung called for the formation of a new government as per Article 168 (2) of the Constitution.
After counting the signatures including that of Speaker Baburam Gautam, province Chief Khapung appointed Nepali Congress leader Thapa as the chief minister on July 6.
On July 7, leader Karki filed a writ at the Supreme Court against the decision.
Hearing the case filed against the Koshi government, a full bench of Justices comprising Ishwor Prasad Khatiwada, Ananda Mohan Bhattarai and Til Prasad Shrestha annulled the appointment of Thapa and directed province Chief Khapung to appoint a chief minister of the coalition government within seven days.
PM Dahal returns home
Wrapping up his visit to Italy, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal returned home on Friday.
Leading a delegation, Prime Minister Dahal had left Kathmandu for Italy on July 22 to attend the 'Food System Summit +2' organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Rome, Italy.
In his address to the 'Food System Summit', PM Dahal had underlined the need for the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) to spur investment in agriculture to cope with climate change and other hazards and strengthen adaptation capacity.
PM Dahal had addressed the 'United Nations Food Systems-2023 Stocktaking Moment'.
He highlighted the effectiveness of Nepal's ongoing mid-day meal program in the health and overall educational improvements of the students.
During his stay in Italy, PM Dahal had held separate meetings with the Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina and UN Secretary-General Antonio Gutterres.
He also had a meeting with the World Food Program (WFP)'s Executive Director Cindy Mccan, FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu and International Fund for Agriculture Development's President Alvaro Lario.
PM Dahal had also participated in a reception hosted by the Non-Resident Nepali Association, Italy in Rome.
PM Dahal also had a separate discussion with the members of Nepali Progressive Forum chapters of Italy, Belgium, Spain, Croatia, Portugal, Austria and Ireland.
The PM-led delegation comprises his personal secretary and daughter Ganga Dahal, Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development Dr Beduram Bhusal, National Planning Commission Member Dr Jayakant Raut, high-ranking government officials, security personnel and others.
