Kathmandu, Feb 15:Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said there would be no compromise on the matters of nation’s sovereignty and geographical integrity and the government was working to regain encroached territory of Nepal from India. Responding to lawmakers’ queries following his address to the House of Representatives on the occasion of completion of two years of the formation of incumbent government today, the Prime Minister said the evidences showed that source of Kaligandaki river, Limpiyadhura and Lipulek area (in western Nepal) were the parts of Nepal. In his attempt to address lawmakers’ queries in regard with the land dispute issue with India, the Prime Minister said, “To sit for talks with India in regard with the border issue is not unilateral. We are working to regain our land and new map of Nepal will be issued soon.” Replying to a query about the possibility of constitution amendment, he said it would be amended in an appropriate time and on the basis of meaning. “We have arrived at this point by following the constitution. The constitution is not a non-amendable document. Its amendment and acceptability are different matters.” He went on to say that the government could not intervene in issues under sub-judice at the court as they would be addressed by the independent judiciary. The development of the nation would be ensured even by bringing about foreign investment, he added. In his response to a question about a lack of 33 percent women’s participation in every state apparatus, the Prime Minister claimed the 33 percent women’s participation was guaranteed following a struggle of the existing major political parties, he assured of uplifting women’s status on an equal footing. Stating the government could not go against fair interest of industrialists, he said the government wanted to collaborate with the private sector. As he said, the Gokarna Resort land was given on lease through an independent evaluation and any reported irregularities in regard with the public land would be investigated. According to the Prime Minister, only those Nepali unaffected by the coronavirus will be brought back to home and they will be kept in isolation for some days safely to be sure that they are virus-free and none need to be worry about the process to evacuate them from China. Following a query about the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), the US-proposed assistance for Nepal, the Prime Minister said the agreement had been presented in the Parliament, seeking endorsement and it would be passed once the Speaker tabled for the decision. The number of people going for abroad jobs has declined by 19 percent due to the creation of jobs at home, he made it clear that tax concession given to the Ncell was just the enforcement of court order, according to him. “The government is open to discuss about the Human Rights Commission Bill,” he said adding the inflation increased by three percent in this period compared to the past. “The use of twine (rope way) has been largely undone and it will be completely removed soon.”
PM Oli also said action was forwarded on the Lalita Niwas scam based on the report of the probe committee. He reiterated “Based on the probe committee report, government forwarded it to the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA).” Those implicated in the Lalita land scam are only accused ones, they could even be acquitted by the court. The constitutional commissions are autonomous bodies, so their integrity makes system robust, he stressed. According to him, government was not biased to anyone. Proper investigation is done on gold smuggling and wide body plane purchase, among others. The properties belonging to Nepal Trust would be utilized for country’s welfare. The PM further said as done on the Lalita Niwas, fair investigation would be carried out on Matatirtha land belonging to the Nepal Trust. He argued that the land was distributed to the tenants against the Nepal Trust Act in 2069.
