New Delhi, Feb 22: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli today said that Nepal wants to benefit from the excelling economic developments of its neighbours – India and China – while taking steps forward.
On the fourth day of his ongoing state visit to India, PM Oli attended the 21st Sapru Prawachan organized by the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) in New Delhi.
Addressing the programme, the PM expressed Nepal’s cravings to mount result-oriented collaboration with India and China for the sake of development.
He made it clear that Nepal’s soil would not be allowed to be misused against any of its neighbours, and spoke of Indian government’s security concern and long existing friendship with India.
The PM said the new constitution addressed the Nepali people’s diverse sentiments and its promulgation ended a historic political workload. “The constitution was not promulgated at once but rather through minute deliberations and a democratic process,” PM Oli said, adding, “The world community was curious and excited on this, and we have rightly addressed their sentiments as well.”
He reminded of the process held at the Constituent Assembly (CA) which saw consultations being held with all the communities and sections, and emphasized that the constitution got votes of more than 90 per cent of the CA members. All the sides may not agree on all the provisions, PM Oli said, adding that the constitution has embraced internationally recognized values on all fundamental rights. The constitution in this view is exemplary and progressive, he said.
“The Constitution has not discriminated against any communities on subjects pertaining to citizenship, employment opportunities, inclusiveness, social justice, equality and democracy rather it has specified provisions for reservations for backward communities,” PM Oli asserted.
He shed light on the election of women representatives as country’s President and House Speaker while adding that the constitution has arranged for a federal commission for settling the issue of demarcation of the provincial borders.
PM Oli expressed gratitude to the Indian government and the world community for hailing the constitution’s promulgation as a significant achievement in ending the outstretched transitional period in Nepal.
Underscoring Nepal’s precedence on ushering in political stability and economic prosperity in the wake of the promulgation of the new constitution, PM Oli stressed on the need to view traditional and long standing relations with India – a close neighbour and important development partner – on a frontier of sentiment by not restricting the mutual relations in any agreement or document.
“We are moving forward on a path guided by mutual trust, respect, sovereignty, free and friendly relations, and prosperity,” PM Oli said, adding, “This relation does not exist only on government to government level, but also on peoples’ level.”
“So we are sensitive on the subjects of enhancing mutual relations and on security issue,” PM Oli further elaborated.
He spoke of efforts made in course of high level meetings during the visit to do away with the recent soured relations and misunderstanding between the two countries. He was optimistic that such misunderstandings would not reoccur in coming days.
Insisting on replicating India’s progress on economic, science and technological fronts, PM Oli lauded the Indian government’s support in the aftermath of the massive earthquake.
He called for mutual cooperation and support for achieving extensive goals for benefit of both the countries’ people and pressed for step forward with progressive and visionary policies on water resources, energy, trade, transit, connectivity, cultural heritage and civilizations.
On the occasion, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Kamal Thapa, said his party has a differing note on the constitution, but accepted it as it bore the backing of two-thirds majority.
He said the relations between Nepal and India strained due to misunderstandings after the constitution’s promulgation, and added PM Oli’s state visit has helped clear the haze. The programme was attended by representatives of Nepal’s political parties, Indian diplomats, and members of intellectual fraternity and civil society.
Birthday greetings
PM Oli’s birthday which falls today was celebrated at the Hotel Taj along with an interaction programme with the business community.
Indian Minister for External Affairs, Sushma Swaraj, while addressing the ICWA programme, extended birthday greetings to PM Oli and wished for his good health as well as success in serving his country Nepal. RSS
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