What Nepalese Ministers Saying in Public
By KTM Metro Reporter in Kathmandu
On Saturday, December 20, 2008, speaking at a press conference held in Dhangadi, Minister for Peace and Reconstruction Janardan Sharma stressed the need for another revolution for a lasting peace in the country; the crafting of a new constitution would be possible if peace would prevail and changes would be made in all aspects of the Nepalese life according to the Kantipuronline.com He also said that setting up of a commission on the missing persons has been delayed due to the lack of law on disappearances.
On Saturday, December 20, 2008, speaking at a national assembly of landless farmers held by the Federation of All Nepal Farmers, Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Bam Dev Gautam said that all landless people would have a piece of land within two years; the government has been working to launch a land-reform program to enable all landless peasants and deprived people own a piece of land.
On Saturday, December 20, 2008, speaking to reporters in Dhangadi, Minister for Labor and Transport Management Lekh Raj Bhatta has warned the transport entrepreneurs of losing their licenses if they continue to defy the government's decision on slashing the transport fares. Speaking to the reporters after participating in the Far-west Festival Minister Bhatta said that the government deployed a team of inspectors to see whether transport-operators followed the fares set by the government or not according to the Nepalnews.com ia Dec 20 08.
On Friday, December 19, 2008, speaking at the inauguration program held by the district convention of Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Gorkha, Finance Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai warned the property-tax defaulters of taking strong actions against them if they failed in paying taxes by February 11 according to the Nepalnews.com nd Dec 20 08
On Sunday, December 21, 2008, Nepalese Prime Minister Prachanda proposed to set up a parliamentary committee comprising representatives of major political parties to monitor the progress made in the enforcement of the nine-point agreement. The NC lawmakers have been boycotting the sessions of the CA demanding the Prime Minister enforce the nine-point agreement he has reached with the NC. Prime Minister met with the NC leader Shekhar Koirala at his official residence in Kathmandu and proposed a parliamentary committee to see progress in the enforcement of the nine-point agreement as the means of breaking up the political impasse caused by the blocking the sessions of the CA.
On December 20, 2008, to counter the statement of Minister for Physical Planning and Works and leader of Madheshi People’s Rights Forum (MPRF) Bijaya Kumar Gacchadar on the irrelevancy of ‘One Madhesh One Province’, President of the MPRF Upendra Yadav has been telling the people that his party has been and is for the ‘One Madheshi One Province’ and his party will pull out of the government if the demand for ‘One Madhesh, One Pradesh’ is not met.
Recently, Minister for Physical Planning and Works and Leader of Madheshi People’s Rights Forum (MPRF) Bijaya Kumar Gacchadar revealed that the past agreements such as the eight-point and 22-point agreements the UDMF had signed with the government has no provision for ‘One Madhesh One Province’. Some Madheshi leaders have already acknowledged it.
On December 19, 2008, speaking at the program held by his CPN-UML party at Barabise in Sindhupalchowk district, Home Minister Bamdev Gautam said that his colleagues and cadres of his party have been creating problems of fulfilling his duties. He told the audience that Maoists and the CPN-UML were on the same boat if the Maoists would sink the CPN-UML would also follow suit. He also revealed the pressure put on him by some of his party comrades to promote and transfer government officials and security personnel.
On Saturday, December 20, 2008, speaking at an interaction program on Upper Trishuli Hydropower Centre held in Rasuwa, former Finance Minister Dr Ramsharan Mahat said that the CPN-Maoist’s plan on installing diesel plants for power production was in fact for getting "commission" on the purchase of diesel plants.