CHITWAN: Co-chair of the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP), Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said that it is lack of knowledge to think that anything bigger can be achieved through violence and terrorism.

Speaking in a joint press meet organised by Press Chautari Nepal and Press Centre Nepal at Bharatpur airport today, Chairman Dahal, who is also the former Prime Minister, said the activities of the party led by Netra Bikram Chand were unwarranted because they were behind blemishing politics.

He remarked that the leftist government has taken initiatives to invite all groups including Netra Bikram Chand-led CPN Maoist for talks to resolve any kind of political issues. He also suggested that those parties should advance talks to reach a consensus instead of carrying out violent activities opposing the government.

He said that the government and the party were seriously thinking about the complaints and concern shown by the general public and lawmakers. The issues on increased taxes in various sectors must be addressed, he added. He defended that federalism was set up to reach the rights and resources to the local levels. The NCP (NCP) Co-chair cleared that he had never said that federalism was in risk due to tax issues but he doubted whether some forces were working out to make the government unpopular referring the tax increase.

Dahal asserted that the rising taxes to be collected by federal, provincial and local levels may create a risk to federalism if the issues were not handled properly. The former PM also said some difficulties were witnessed in the institutionalisation of provincial governments in the country with the adoption of the new setup.

Moreover, the NCP (NCP) Co-chair shared that his upcoming visits to China and India will be centred on harmonising bilateral ties and importing foreign investment for developmental projects in the country.

Pushpa Kamal Dahal will be visiting India and China in September to convey to the two neighbours the new government’s priorities and push for Nepal-India-China trilateral cooperation and connectivity to realise the goals of economic development and prosperity.

Speaking in the same press meet, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Health and Population Upendra Yadav said the Ministry was working out to make the health services effective and easily accessible.