Kathmandu, May 29: Minister for Communication and Information Technology Parbat Gurung has said the entire nation should be united in tackling the adversity posed by the COVID-19 pandemic in the present situation.
Minister Gurung said so in an interview given to RSS reporter Ashok Ghimire on the eve of the 14th Republic Day.
"A dire situation has arisen at present when the entire nation
should stand as one in protecting the life of people as the country grapples with the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. The attention of the State is focused on controlling the pandemic and protection of the health of the people," he said. Asked about the major achievements made after the country's adoption of federal democratic republican system, Minister Gurung, who is also the government spokesperson, said: "We have been successful in conducting the election to all the three tiers of the government within this short period of the country's entering into the federal democratic republic dispensation. We have formulated laws as stipulated by the constitution. Works like giving concrete form to the national aspiration of 'Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali' have been carried out with the formation of a government on the basis of the nearly two-thirds votes and the mandate given by the people through the election."
On the occasion of the Republic Day, Minister Gurung also expressed hearty gratitude to the political parties, leaders, social personalities and the Nepali people contributing to establishing the federal democratic republic. He paid tribute to the known and unknown martyrs who laid down their lives in the movement for establishing the republic.
"As when the whole of Nepal was united for achieving the federal democratic republic, the time has come once again when all the Nepali people, political parties need to be united in ending the present COVID-19 crisis and building a prosperous nation. I urge one and all to rise above personal interest, desire, aspiration and political interests, and to come together for putting to an end the present political and health crisis," Minister Gurung reiterated.
Regarding the ongoing conflict and bickering among the political parties in the present situation when the country is going through a deadly pandemic, Minister Gurung, also a central committee member of the ruling CPN (UML), blamed the opposition political parties and some detractors for bringing this situation.
"The activities the political parties in the opposition and some friends are carrying out at present are not in line with the right political direction. This is also not the direction of the federal democratic republic that the country has adopted. Theirs is not the political way that will take the country out of the present crisis. They are directionless," he said.
According to him the present political crisis started also because of the race as to who becomes the Prime Minister and leads the government. This has to be put to an end in time and all should forge ahead unitedly to end all sorts of crises.
Responding to the question related to the 'unhealthy' debates and comments regarding the performance of the President and the Prime Minister, vis a' vis the dissolution of the House of Representatives, the government spokesperson said that he did not want to comment on this issue as it has already entered the Supreme Court. He said the Supreme Court's decision should be followed in letter and spirit.
On the topic of the legality of the government, Minister Gurung urged people to refer to the Article 76(5) of the Constitution. According to him all the sub-articles of this Article related to the formation of government have been used and implemented.
"The rumours that we are hearing in the street that the Prime Minister violated the constitution in recommending for the dissolution of the House of Representatives are all baseless accusations levelled by the opposition and government detractors.