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The ruling Nepali Congress has decided to hold its Mahasamiti meeting in November to undertake responsibilities assigned to it by the party’s policy convention as decided in the 14th general convention.

The Mahasamiti is the party’s apex body, which dwells on contemporary political issues. The party has also decided to hold a nationwide campaign between Aug 5 and Aug 14 and in the community from Aug 27 to Sept 10 for strengthening the party’s organizational base.

The week-long meeting of the Central Working Committee (CWC), which took place after a gap of one year, also made its position on a host of national agendas, but failed to address key intra-party issues such as holding a policy convention, forming the party’s department and addressing concerns related to the party’s sister organizations.  Regarding the current corruption scandals, the party has said that good governance is its top priority.

“The Nepali Congress has and will always be committed to making the country free from corruption by punishing anyone who commits corruption according to the law,” the party has said.

The party has also commended the government for the steps taken to investigate and prosecute fake Bhutanese refugee scam and Lalita Niwas land grab case. Several high level politicians, including senior NC leader Bal Krishna Khand, and business persons have been implicated in both scandals. 

The NC has said that its policy on corruption is that no innocent should be punished or guilty be spared. During the CWC meeting, however, many CWC members of the party had defended Khand and protested the call raised by the general secretary duo, Gagan Kumar Thapa and Bishwa Prakash Sharma, to suspend him. 

Through its CWC meeting, the Congress party has also recommended that the government ensure good governance, control corruption and uphold transparency and accountability, as desired by the people. The party has also called on the government to improve services provided through government offices.  Although there have been some improvements in the procedures for obtaining essential documents such as passports, national identity cards, driver’s licenses, etc., the NC has demanded “immediate and meaningful” improvements from the government to create a situation that can be felt by the consumers.

The Covid-19 pandemic and the Ukraine-Russia war made negative impacts on the production and distribution systems worldwide, affecting our society as well, according to NC, consequently, industrialists, traders, businessmen, farmers, and laborers are worried about running their businesses and maintaining their daily lives.
The coalition government formed in this situation is working to address these problems, and there have been some signs of improvement in the economy recently, the NC has said.

“To make these reforms comprehensive and sustainable, to strengthen the economy, and to make the banking system accessible to the general public, the Nepali Congress draws the government's attention to make important decisions on this sensitive issue,” the party stated.

While the government is taking meaningful initiatives to control price increases and shortages, it is the state’s duty to ensure smooth supplies of essential commodities to the people and provide relief to the people. So, the Congress has requested the government to conduct a proper study of low-income families, daily wage earners, street vendors who have been displaced and are currently employed, and make necessary decisions for their livelihood.

The CWC meeting also requested the government to conduct a serious and in-depth investigation into the smuggling of 100 kg gold through the Tribhuvan International Airport Customs Office and bring the culprits to book.

The party has also drawn the government’s attention toward shortage of fertilizers and seeds that farmers have been facing during the cultivation season. Due to low rainfall, paddy transplantation has not taken place on one-thirds of the land, which has had a negative impact not only on the daily life and annual income of farmers but also on the national domestic product, the party has said, calling on the government to provide fertilizer and seeds to the affected farmers at concessional prices.

The NC has also raised the issue of lumpy skin disease, which has killed and affected thousands of cattle across the country. The infection has become particularly hard on cattle farmers due to the ongoing economic recession, the party has said, urging the government to provide compensation to the affected farmers and distribute vaccines at the earliest.

The Congress party has also expressed concern that the paddy output could drop this year due to low rainfall. This could have a negative impact on the daily life and annual income of farmers, as well as the overall GDP of the country, the party has said. The NC has asked the government to take proper strategic precautions and manage possible food shortage.

The party has urged the government to declare areas where paddy transplantation is not possible due to delayed or insufficient rains as 'dry areas' and provide necessary relief and compensation to the farmers. Additionally, the NC has also called on the government to provide compensation to victims of floods, landslides, and other catastrophes in different parts of the country.

Similarly, the NC has urged the government to support the people who have been affected due to the wrong intentions of some microfinance banks and cooperatives. The party has asked the government to deliver justice to the depositors and take necessary decisions to support borrowers who have not been able to repay their loans taken on group guarantees.

The NC has also concluded that the enactment of the Citizenship Act, initiated by the party, has brought smiles to the faces of people. The party has requested the government to prepare Citizenship Regulations at the earliest and facilitate the process of citizenship distribution.

Stating that transitional justice laws are crucial to bringing lasting peace in the country, the NC has asked the government to pass transitional justice bills from both Houses of parliament by forging consensus among all parties.

The NC has also drawn the attention of the government to the need to bring crucial laws like the Federal Civil Service Act, Federal Police Act, Federal Education Act, among others, which are crucial for the smooth implementation of federalism.

Stating that groundwater levels in the Tarai Madhes region are depleting due to the impacts of climate change and environmental impacts on the Chure region, the NC has asked the government to find out the reasons behind this and provide a solution to the problem.

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.  

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.

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.