RPP Chief Thapa bats for roundtable conference

Pokhara, June 6

Rastriya Prajatantra Party Chairperson Kamal Thapa has renewed his called for a round table conference accommodating even the former king and a faction of the former Maoist rebels that has now returned to violence, to ensure lasting peace and political stability in the country.

Speaking at a press meet organised by Media Nepal Kaski here today on the eve of the party’s second national self-esteem march slated to start from Mustang’s Muktinath tomorrow, Thapa suggested that the major parties be ready for such a conference.

“There is a large section of our society, including the Netra Bikram Chand-led group, that is dissatisfied with the statute. If this dissatisfaction explodes, it could spell disaster in the country, hence it’s high time we do something to take even those holdouts abroad,” said Thapa, observing that the country has witnessed the politics of negation in the past 12 years.

Thapa accused the major parties of being hand-ingloves in plundering the state coffers.

“Billions of rupees have been misappropriated in the name of so-called political consensus. The shoddy aircraft purchase deal, Ncell tax fraud, bullion smuggling and the Baluwatar land fraud are a few scandals to mention, in which the top leaders of the two major parties are involved,” he said.

Thapa also demanded a high-level independent probe committee to investigate the property amassed by top political leaders to expose them and their illegally-amassed property. He also accused the major parties of winning elections with the support of foreign powers and the resources provided by them.

“How can we think parties that play into the hands of foreign powers will do something for us in the interest of our country?” he asked.

Commenting on the budget that was recently made public by the government, the leader accused the budget of being light on youth employment.

“We’ve around 500,000 youths who enter the market every year, but the government can’t ensure employment for even 10 per cent of them, which is a worrying scenario by every account,” he said, adding that national economy won’t be strong until youths can get employment in the home country.