Govt's programmes and policies draw mixed reaction

Govt's programmes and policies draw mixed reaction

Leaders of the various political parties and business sector have given mixed reactions to the programmes and policies unveiled by the first government of republic Nepal Wednesday.

Talking to media persons after President Dr Ram Baran Yadav read out the programmes and policies at the legislative meeting of the Constituent Assembly, former vice-chairman of the National Planning Commission and leader of opposition party Nepali Congress Dr Narayan Khadka said many projects could be attained only in the long run.

Khadka said the projects likely to be completed in 20 years have been laid out like one-year's programme.

Senior Nepali Congress leader Sher Bahadur Deuba termed the programmes and policies as a long and tedious essay. He said NC is strongly opposed to terms like 'people's war' and People's Liberation Army' mentioned in the government's policy document-- instead of 'Maoist war' and 'Maoist army'. These terms do not figure in the Comprehensive Peace Accord and are thus objectionable, he said.

"There are many other things in which we will present our formal reaction during the debate," Deuba added.

NC general secretary K. B. Gurung said the programmes cannot to be implemented adding they are just to attract public sentiments.

Senior leader of CPN (UML), a coalition partner, Madhav Kumar Nepal descried the programme and policies as positive but opinioned that it would turn out to be fruitful only if the government effectively implements them. He, however, said the government failed to bring out as progressive programmes as had been unveiled by his UML's minority government a decade ago.

Another leader of the party Bharat Mohan Adhikari appreciated the programmes and policies saying this would pave the way for economic revolution in the country, after completing political revolution.

Foreign Minister Upendra Yadav said the government was determined to implement the programmes and policies.

Meanwhile, president of Federation of Nepali Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI) Kush Kumar Joshi also welcomed the programmes and policies of the government saying the business sector is hopeful of all commitments implemented to begin the age of rapid economic changes in the country.

He said establishment of an' investment board' headed by Prime Minister and emphasis on public-private-partnership makes the business sector hopeful of the programmes and policies being implemented. He said most of the suggestions forwarded by the private sectors have been incorporated in the programmes and policies.