SUNSARI: Nepali Congress (NC) leader and former Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat today claimed that the country prospered in various fields due to the free economy policy adopted by his party for years.

He said that Nepal has witnessed progress in various fields like telecommunications, industries and air service due to the policy, leading country's economy to a great height.

Mahat was speaking at an interaction organised by NC constituency-2 regional committee in Itahari, Sunsari.

On a different context, Mahat said that NC President Sushil Koirala was forced to field his candidacy in the prime ministerial elections in October as the CPN-UML did not cooperate with the former NC-led government on various issues including that of forming the National Reconstruction Authority.

Meanwhile, speaking at another event organised by Nepal Press Union, Morang, Mahat said that the India imposed unofficial blockade against the international laws, disrupting foreign trade.

Saying that the blockade has assisted the ongoing protest in the Tarai, he called for talks with India to end agitation-triggered crisis and the blockade.

He also said that the blockade should be taken up at the international level through diplomatic channels.