Hetauda, December 27

Health Minister Gagan Thapa stressed the inevitability of local elections, claiming that the polls would be held by mid-May next year.

Speaking at a party-organised programme in Manahari, Makawanpur, the NC leader sought cooperation and support from the opposition to hold elections.

“UML is agitating both from the Parliament and the streets professedly against the proposed amendment of the statute, while there are others who refuse to respect the constitution of the nation. We need to be safe from such extremist views,” he argued.

Further, identifying the constitution as the basis for the country’s prosperity, the Congress leader called on his party to safeguard the national charter. “Since it was Congress under whose leadership the statute was promulgated, the same party needs to take leadership to protect the charter,” he said.

He informed about the all-out efforts of his ministry to implement health insurance in the country. “The proposed act related to health policy will be tabled in Parliament by mid-January, which, once endorsed will serve the people as buffer against serious diseases,” he said. Also, the minister revealed the government plan to set up 5,000 more health posts in the country in five years’ time.