Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on
Thursday reiterated his commitment to address the concerns raised by the
agitating regional parties but stopped short of giving a timeline for
the same.
Dahal, who became the prime minister on August 3 with the backing of the Nepali Congress and other Madhes-based parties, is under pressure to register a constitution amendment proposal in Parliament before he embarks on a visit to India from September 15.
In his first address to the nation after being elected the prime minister, Dahal stressed conclusion of the remaining task of the peace process, implementation of the constitution and
reconstruction of earthquake-ravaged structures as his priority.
During his 50-minute speech, PM Dahal spent a considerable amount of time to describe the achievements of his government in the last one month. Dahal counted resumption of dialogue with the Madhesi and Tharu groups, end of polarisation between the government and the agitating parties and cordial relations with the dissenting parties as major achievements of his government.
Prior to his address, leaders from the Madhesi parties had demanded that the government register a constitution amendment bill before the prime minister’s scheduled visit to India.
“We had expected that the prime minister would come up with a certain timeline,” said Narsingh Chaudhary, a lawmaker from a Sadbhawana Party. “Nonetheless, we are hopeful about some positive moves from the government as there is still a week left before the PM embarks on India visit.”
Amid criticism from the opposition parties that the government is trying to take southern neighbour into
confidence before an amendment to the constitution, PM Dahal said, “The existing political differences will be sorted out internally with broader consent.
“I am committed to constitution amendment as earliest as possible,” said Dahal,
stopping short of setting a timeline. “The government is trying to forge maximum
consensus among all the parties, including those in the opposition.”
PM Dahal also said that the government is committed to holding local level elections by forging a common understanding among political parties on the number of local units. “The government is making all-out efforts to formulate laws that are required for holding local elections.
“The report of Local
Level Restructuring Commission will be finalised by mid-October,” he said, urging all the parties to join hands to hold three elections by the constitutional deadline of January 20.
Defending his move to send two deputy prime ministers as government’s special envoys to India and China, PM Dahal said, “During the erstwhile KP Sharma Oli-led government, relations with India had soured to such a level that the ambassador had to be recalled and President’s visit to the southern neighbour had to be called off. But, relations with both the neighbouring countries have improved after the visits of two special envoys.”
PM Dahal, however, did not speak about his upcoming India visit.
His address, which sounded more like government’s policy and programme, was a compilation of the priorities set by different ministries.
On reconstruction, PM Dahal announced Rs 800,000 package—Rs 300,000 in grant and Rs 500,000 in loan—for the earthquake victims.
He also announced to set up one university and one medical college each in seven provinces and run 100 public buses in big cities across the country. PM Dahal also announced to increase compensation to the kin of migrant workers killed abroad to Rs 700,000 from Rs 500,000.
Source
Dahal, who became the prime minister on August 3 with the backing of the Nepali Congress and other Madhes-based parties, is under pressure to register a constitution amendment proposal in Parliament before he embarks on a visit to India from September 15.
In his first address to the nation after being elected the prime minister, Dahal stressed conclusion of the remaining task of the peace process, implementation of the constitution and
reconstruction of earthquake-ravaged structures as his priority.
During his 50-minute speech, PM Dahal spent a considerable amount of time to describe the achievements of his government in the last one month. Dahal counted resumption of dialogue with the Madhesi and Tharu groups, end of polarisation between the government and the agitating parties and cordial relations with the dissenting parties as major achievements of his government.
Prior to his address, leaders from the Madhesi parties had demanded that the government register a constitution amendment bill before the prime minister’s scheduled visit to India.
“We had expected that the prime minister would come up with a certain timeline,” said Narsingh Chaudhary, a lawmaker from a Sadbhawana Party. “Nonetheless, we are hopeful about some positive moves from the government as there is still a week left before the PM embarks on India visit.”
Amid criticism from the opposition parties that the government is trying to take southern neighbour into
confidence before an amendment to the constitution, PM Dahal said, “The existing political differences will be sorted out internally with broader consent.
“I am committed to constitution amendment as earliest as possible,” said Dahal,
stopping short of setting a timeline. “The government is trying to forge maximum
consensus among all the parties, including those in the opposition.”
PM Dahal also said that the government is committed to holding local level elections by forging a common understanding among political parties on the number of local units. “The government is making all-out efforts to formulate laws that are required for holding local elections.
“The report of Local
Level Restructuring Commission will be finalised by mid-October,” he said, urging all the parties to join hands to hold three elections by the constitutional deadline of January 20.
Defending his move to send two deputy prime ministers as government’s special envoys to India and China, PM Dahal said, “During the erstwhile KP Sharma Oli-led government, relations with India had soured to such a level that the ambassador had to be recalled and President’s visit to the southern neighbour had to be called off. But, relations with both the neighbouring countries have improved after the visits of two special envoys.”
PM Dahal, however, did not speak about his upcoming India visit.
His address, which sounded more like government’s policy and programme, was a compilation of the priorities set by different ministries.
On reconstruction, PM Dahal announced Rs 800,000 package—Rs 300,000 in grant and Rs 500,000 in loan—for the earthquake victims.
He also announced to set up one university and one medical college each in seven provinces and run 100 public buses in big cities across the country. PM Dahal also announced to increase compensation to the kin of migrant workers killed abroad to Rs 700,000 from Rs 500,000.
Mahat to leave for India on Sunday
Ahead
of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s state visit to India, Foreign
Minister Prakash Sharan Mahat is going to India on Sunday. During his
official visit to New Delhi, he will meet with senior Indian officials
including his Indian counterpart Sushma Swaraj to discuss the agenda of
and preparations for the PM’s visit. This will be Mahat’s first foreign
visit after assuming office last month. He will return on Tuesday. “I
will meet some other ministers to discuss some projects and areas of
cooperation with India,” Mahat said.
Source
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