Right Honourable President Mrs. Bidya Devi Bhandari held a meeting with the leaders of the main political parties and former prime ministers at the Office of the President, Maharajgunj, Kathmandu, on 16 March 2021. Current issues and the matters of national concerns were discussed at the meeting.
The Chairperson of the Nepal Communist Party (UML) and the Right Honourable Prime Minister Mr. KP Sharma Oli, the President of the Nepali Congress and former Prime Minister Mr. Sher Bahadur Deuba, the Chairperson of the Nepal Communist Party (Maoist Centre) and former Prime Minister Mr. Puspakamal Dahal, the Chairpersons of Samajbadi Party, Nepal Mr. Mahanta Thakur and Mr. Upendra Yadav and the party’s leader Mr. Rajendra Mahato were present at the meeting.
Also present in the meeting were Mr. Ram Bahadur Thapa, Mr. Ishwor Pokharel, Mr. Subashchandra Nemwang, and Mr. Bishnu Prasad Paudel of the CPN (UML), Mr. Ram Chandra Poudel, Mr. Bimalendra Nidhi, and Dr. Shashanka Koirala of the NC, and Mr. Narayan Kaji Shrestha and Mr. Dev Prasad Gurung of the NCP (Maoist Centre).
The former Chairperson of the Cabinet of Ministers Mr. Khil Raj Regmi was present at the meeting. Likewise, the Chairperson of Rastriya Prajatantra Party, Dr. Prakash Chandra Lohani, the Chairperson of Rastriya Janamorcha Mr. Chitra Bahadur KC, and the party’s leader Janak Raj Sharma, and the leader of the Nepal Majdoor Kisan Party Mr. Prem Suwal were also present at the meeting.
Welcoming the leaders at the program, the Right Honourable President pointed out at the Nepali leaders’ glorious political tradition of mutual understanding, cooperation, and unity and stressed on the need for the continuity of such practices among political parties particularly for the effective implementation of the Constitution and consolidation of democracy.
The Rt. Honorable President has further stated that our society has always been polite, civilized, and tolerant and our leaders have always exhibited high political culture which needs to be continued.
On the occasion, the Right Honorable President recalled the previous all-party meeting organized by the Office of the President to celebrate the historical unity of all parties while publishing Nepal’s new political map by including the country’s encroached territory for which she was appreciative of the efforts of the leaders of all political parties..
While stating the adverse impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on all sectors including economy, education, health, and tourism, the Rt. Honorable President appreciated the efforts of the health workers, security forces, and civil employees, leaders and cadres of political parties for their contributions in the battle of the government against the pandemic.
The Rt. Honorable President requested the leaders to continue mutual interactions and discussions in addressing the issues of peoples’ livelihood including education, health, economy, drinking-water and climate change.
On the occasion, the Rt. Honorable President informed the participants that she will pay a state visit to Bangladesh on the cordial invitation extended to her by His Excellency the President of Bangladesh to participate in the celebration of the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Father of the Nation of Bangladesh.
Rupnarayan Bhattarai
Spokesperson