National
Congress Mahasamiti meet concludes: Leaders put up united face, charter amendment endorsed unanimously
The Nepali Congress (NC) Mahasamiti meeting concluded on Sunday by unanimously endorsing the draft amendment of party statute. The meeting has entrusted the Central Working Committee with the responsibility to incorporate the suggestions made by the Mahasamiti meeting.Sanjeeb Phuyal
The Nepali Congress (NC) Mahasamiti meeting concluded on Sunday by unanimously endorsing the draft amendment of party statute. The meeting has entrusted the Central Working Committee with the responsibility to incorporate the suggestions made by the Mahasamiti meeting.
The party leaders, who were at each other’s throats from the beginning of Mahasamiti meeting, send out the message in one voice that the party is united during the closing ceremony.
The NC leaders claimed the party statute endorsed by the Mahasamiti has made the Congress one most inclusive party in the world with representation of all the ethnic groups and communities.
At the conclusion of Mahasamiti meeting, NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba and leader Ram Chandra Poudel said there was no dispute in the party and will strive for nationwide campaign.
The meeting endorsed the party’s political and economic documents, organisational proposal for the post of party General Secretary, and the report by treasurer.
The party also issued a 15-point document on current situation of the country, claiming that the Nepal Communist Party led government has institutionalised corruption in the country through massive misuse of state resources.
“The current government has been trying to centralize the power. The government’s initiative to draft a law to select developer for projects above Rs 50billion without competitive bidding is highly objectionable,” read the document. Coming down heavily upon the government’s decision to award the Budhi Gandaki Hydropower Project to controversial decision by overturning the erstwhile Deuba-led government’s decision to build the project with domestic investment, the Congress has demanded the government scrap the decision immediately.
The party has also demanded the government conduct a high-level probe into the alleged irregularities during the purchase of wide-body aircraft for Nepal Airlines Corporation. “We have strong reservations over the government’s move to sweep various scandals including sugar and gold smuggling under the carpet, and we demand a fair investigation into the cases, and action against those found guilty,” read the party’s document.
The Nepali Congress said it believes in religious freedom and religious tolerance and has equal respect for all the religious. “We strongly believe that the constitutional provision on religious freedom should be implemented in letter and spirit and anyone involved in converting anyone into their religious fold or the action meant to disturb other religion should be liable to action,” read the party’s document.
The Mahasamiti meeting took exception to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli led government’s direct involvement in a religious programme organised by a constroversial non-government organisation. The party has warned the government to abstain from such activities in the future.
Claiming that the current Oli administration was elected to power riding on the slogan of nationalism, the NC said the recent activities of the government reflect its submissive attitude.
The Nepali Congress has remarked that black marketeering, price rise, excessive interest rate and double and triple taxation, and illegal activities have thrived in the country, thereby deteriorating the investment climate in the country.
Likewise, the party has demanded the government make the arrangement for granting voting rights to the members of Nepali diaspora community who has been making huge contribution to the country from abroad.
The Mahasamiti meeting that started on December 15 was extended by three days due to a row over the party charter—mainly the number of office bearers and the modality of their election. Leaders have agreed on 14 office bearers approving the new party statute.
The party has inducted Subarna Shamsher—one of the founding leaders of the party—in the preamble of its statute, said member of the statute amendment draft committee member Dilendra Prasad Badu.
Earlier, the name of Subarna Shumsher, who led an armed revolt against the autocratic Rana regime and made tremendous contributions including economic support for the party since its establishment, was missing from the party statute.