Nepal freed of political conflict: Minister Gyawali

Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali has said Nepal has been freed of conflict politically.

Taking part in a meeting of the House of Representatives (HoR) today, the Minister said with forces advocating for secession and launching violent activities in the Tarai coming into the mainstream of politics, the country has been freed of political conflict. ''This is a significant achievement."

He was of the opinion that all political parties should have a common understanding of ordinances to be presented in the parliament.

Though the government intended to move ahead in a different way in the parliament, the current atmosphere did not suggest a good gesture. ''It has been mandatory to seek political stability from this parliament in the aftermath of the Supreme Court's verdict to reinstate the HoR,'' he said, claiming the court had put no blame on the government.

The promulgation of the 2015 constitution was a historic and important achievement of the country and the constitution had now become the document acceptable for all.

He went on to say that the government in the past three years carried out important works. The Melamchi Water Supply Project, Sunkoshi Diversion, Nagdhunga tunnel way and so on were the major projects in which the government made notable progress, he said, expressing his belief that Nepal would soon be uplifted from the category of the least developed country.

Melamchi water has arrived in Sundarijal and it will start running from the taps of Kathmandu next week. "The foundation stone of the Sunkoshi Diversion, which aims to develop five districts, has been laid. The construction of Nagdhunga tunnel has been expedited to find a solution to the long-standing traffic jam issue.''

More, Nepal measured the height of the Sagarmatha (Mt Everest) on its own, he added.

Stating that the government has laid the foundation stone for constructing 396 hospitals throughout the country with the objective of providing health services to the people in an easy and accessible way, Minister Gyawali said the Tamakoshi Hydroelectricity Project would start production soon.

He reiterated that the country has made new achievements and moved ahead on the path towards prosperity.

Mentioning that the government has made an important achievement in the control and prevention of COVID-19, he said the population recovering from coronavirus was 98 per cent. He said Nepal is among the 60 countries in the world providing vaccination against COVID-19 to their citizens in the initial phase. "We have already inoculated 1.7 million people against coronavirus," he said.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Gyawali expressed gratitude to India, China and the United Nations Organisation for providing the vaccines against COVID-19 to Nepal.

He said Nepal has made significant progress in promoting its relations with foreign countries. The Minister added that Nepal has strongly raised the issue of Kalapani, Lipulek and Limpiyadhura, the Nepali territories encroached upon by India in the north-western border.

On the occasion, the Foreign Affairs Minister Gyawali informed the House regarding the forthcoming friendly official visit of President Bidya Devi Bhandari to Bangladesh. He said President Bhandari's visit to Bangladesh on March 22 and 23 would contribute to further deepening the ties between the two countries.