Kathmandu, July 19

The main opposition Nepali Congress today held a meeting with Nepal Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal and Naya Shakti Party-Nepal, putting forth a proposal to come up with a uniform opinion on a host of issues being raised in the Parliament, including the National Medical Education Bill and Dr Govinda KC’s demands.

During a meeting at the parliament building in New Baneshwor, NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba put forth such a proposal stating that Nepal Communist Party (NCP)-led government was becoming ‘authoritarian’ and that democratic forces should come together to fight against the government’s ‘excesses and autocratic moves’.

The meeting was attended by RJP-Nepal presidium members Rajendra Mahato and Mahanta Thakur and Naya Shakti Party-Nepal Coordinator Baburam Bhattarai, among other leaders.

According to NC Chief Whip Bal Krishna Khand, who attended the meeting, NSP-N Coordinator Baburam Bhattarai agreed to support NC’s stand in the Parliament, stating the demands of Dr KC were legitimate and the National Medical Education Bill should be tabled in line with the ordinance introduced by the previous NC-led government.

Dr KC has also been on a hunger strike since June 30 putting forth the same demand.

Confirming that Deuba made such a proposal, RJP-N presidium member Mahato said since it was just first such discussion, his party would hold internal consultations and come up with an opinion. Moreover, RJP-N has extended its support to the government, so it would first hold talks with the government before coming up with a reply.

“We also have our own concerns, such as constitution amendment and many more. So we will first know the NC’s opinion on our concerns before giving any answer to the proposal,” he said. “Since this is first such meeting, more meetings will take place where we will explore possibilities of collaboration.”

The Nepali Congress has been seeking support for its nationwide protests against the government’s ‘authoritarian’ and ‘anti-people’ moves that ‘undermined the constitution’. It has demanded that the government table the National Medical Education Bill including all the provisions in the related ordinance that expired recently.

The ordinance was first introduced by Deuba-led government, which was again re-introduced by the incumbent government.

Jumla incident condemned

KATHMANDU: The main opposition Nepali Congress on Thursday condemned the use of police force to bring Dr Govinda KC to Kathmandu from Jumla, where he had been staging a hunger strike. It is everybody’s responsibility to save Dr KC’s life, but the NC condemns use of force by police and damage to property worth hundreds of thousands of rupees in the course of bringing Dr KC to Kathmandu, said NC Spokesperson Bishwa Prakash Sharma in a press release. Several doctors, nurses, students and general public were injured in the incident. The NC also regretted the postponement of the House meeting for the next eight days at a time when the dialogue between the ruling and opposition parties was essential. “We caution the government to get out of the illusion that it can divert the issue by postponing the Parliament meeting,” said Sharma. “We will continue our struggle in the Parliament and streets until the National Medical Education Bill is presented in the Parliament in line with the ordinance.”