UML meet ratifies 17-point proposal

Chitwan, December 9

The national gathering of the CPN-UML concluded in Sauraha of Chitwan today endorsing a 17-point proposal and urging the government and major political parties to help resolve the present crisis in the Tarai through talks.

The CPN-UML central publicity department chief Yogesh Bhattarai made public the proposal at a press conference in Bharatpur today, a day after the two-day gathering wrapped up.

The proposal has rued the hardships the common people are facing due to the unrest, bandh and agitation in the plains.

Expressing serious concern about acts of vandalism perpetrated by the agitators on passengers, cargo and emergency vehicles and the arson at the houses of political leaders, the document has asked the government to do the needful to stop vandalism, ensure the rights of the common people to life and free movement and to ease the supply of goods and commodities inside the country.

Further, the document also proposes to support the recent agreement struck among the three major political parties to take ahead the constitution amendment bill registered in the Parliament, settle disputes related to state delineation through discussions and political consensus in three months’ time by forming a political committee and urged the agitating side to take back their agitation programmes.

Regarding the ‘blockade’, the proposal laments the serious humanitarian crisis the blockade has caused. Saying the blockade goes against the United Nations and SAARC charters and various other treaties and agreements between the two neibhbours, the proposal has warned that the blockade might impair the decade long relations between the countries.

The proposal has accorded special thanks to the UN and EU and countries such as the US and Japan and a select few Indian leaders and the common Indian citizen for expressing their solidarity with the Nepali people and sympathising with people who are facing problems due to the crippling blockade. Massive thanks have also been extended to China for providing petroleum products in grant during the time of crisis.

Similarly, the proposal has sought special package from the government for Dalits, the minorities, Muslims and the impoverished and the backward communities.

Special provision has also been sought to address the acute poverty, lack of education, unemployment, gender violence, and ethnic and various other forms of discrimination in the Tarai.

On the summons of the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority served on a few of the party leaders, the proposal has said the news has drawn its attention.

“UML is always for good governance, and transparency.

Everyone knows this. So the CIAA’s step at this time when the whole nation is struggling to keep its sovereignty intact with the party leading the struggle, has raised suspicion, the proposal reads, however, the party pledged to help with any lawful investigation.

We are ready to help in any investigation that the state body conducts lawfully; but anything done with prejudice and to settle old scores are unfortunate and the party wants to draw everyone’s attention to the same, the proposal reads.