KAVRE: Minister for Communications and Information Technology Gokul Prasad Baskota has urged the leadership and staffers at the Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS) in Kaverepalanchowk district not be embroiled in politics anymore.

Addressing an event organized by the NRCS at Banepa, Kaverepalanchowk to handover an ambulance today, Minister Baskota questioned, “Why would disputes arise in a humanitarian organization like Red Cross? Comply with the global principles and values of the Red Cross. No dispute or conflict would erupt anymore.”

“We all have our own personal views and opinions but keep them to you and end politics within the NRCS. There will never be any dispute and conflict,” said Minister Baskota, adding that he was confident that the current leadership in NRCS was not involved in the game of politics.

Stating that conflict of interest was viewed as a normal phenomenon in the profit-making ventures, Baskota admitted that it was unpleasant to learn about conflict and dispute brewing in the humanitarian agency like the Red Cross.

On a different note, he pledged to provide a catchy ‘toll-free’ phone number to the NRCS.

“I commit my utmost support for providing a toll-free phone number to facilitate healthcare services to the public. The Ministry of Home Affairs also needs to advance this cause,” said the Minister, prodding the NRCS authority to make an immediate effort towards this end.

Baskota, who is also Minister for Urban Development, reminded that the Canadian Red Cross had provided humanitarian assistance to Nepal and called upon the Red Cross staffers and leadership to rise above the personal interest to fulfill the objectives of the Red Cross.

The Minister on the occasion provided two ambulances with necessary medical equipment in them to two rural municipalities- Pokharichauri and Bethanchowk- in Kavrepalanchok.