Nepali Congress has made public its election manifesto putting forth the slogan “Guarantee of Identity, End of Ethnic Conflict” (Pahichan bhetine, jatiya dwonda metine) amid a special program in Kathmandu Thursday.
Making public its manifesto in its party headquarters at Sanepa, Lalitpur, the NC said it will always ensure human rights of people and democracy in the country, along with the citizens’ fundamental rights and federalism.
The party has floated yet another major slogan “Congress for political outlet, Congress for economic development” emphasizing that the party can provide an outlet to the current political impasse, while spearheading rapid development activities simultaneously.
National unity and integrity, people-based sovereignty, freedom of citizens, supremacy of constitution have also been stressed.
Similarly, the manifesto said Nepal will remain a multi-ethnic, multi-religious, secular, multi-cultural, inclusive, federalized democratic republic sovereign nation, while “Unity in Diversity” will be maintained.
“Nepal is a country of various languages, ethnic groups, culture. Nepal will not be confined to any single ethnic group, culture or language,” said the manifesto. “Respect, recognition (identity), rights and entitlements of all ethnic groups will be ascertained, constitutionally. Social justice, inclusive state mechanism and proportional representation will also be upheld”
There will be three tiers of government: central federal government, provincial government and local autonomous governments. There will be one chief minister in every province, while the president will be ceremonial and the prime minister the executive.
Nepal will be restructured so that a suitable federal model could be adopted. Seven provinces will be carved out based on identity and capacity,” said the manifesto, adding, “Identity includes ethnic, cultural, linguistic, geographical and historical identities, while capacity includes economic situation, existing infrastructure, availability of natural resources and administrative accessibility.”
Provincial border demarcation will be mentioned directly in constitution, while the names of provinces will be chosen by the provincial governments themselves, added the manifesto. “States will be multi-identity based and will have to be acceptable to all.”
The manifesto said the election of local bodies will be held in six months after the election of constituent assembly.
On economic front, the manifesto said, in four years, 8 to 10 percent economic growth will be achieved and in 20 years, Nepal will be promoted to ‘high middle income group of countries’.
In five years, Nepalis’ per capita income will be increased to Rs 100,000 per year, while manufacturing sector’s contribution to GDP will be increased to at least 10 percent in the next five years, added the manifesto.
“Agriculture-based population will be decreased from the current 68 percent to 55 percent in the next five years, while the party will not organize any Nepal bandh (general strike).”
Agriculture, tourism, water resources sectors will be developed properly for achieving fast economic development. Investment-friendly environment will be created so that private sector can flourish and massive social and economic transformation could be attained,” said the manifesto.
Nepal will be able to produce 5,000 MW of electricity in the next five years, said the manifesto.
On social front, rights of elderly citizens, sexual minority community and girl child will be ascertained, while the unequal admission ratio of boy and girl child in primary education will be eliminated, said the manifesto.
