KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress President Gagan Kumar Thapa has stressed the need for open, fact- and reason-based dialogue within the country, Parliament and the party, questioning the relevance of Parliament in the absence of the prime minister.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony of the Nepali Congress’ 15th General Convention at the historic Khula Manch in Kathmandu, Thapa highlighted the significance of the venue and recalled the contributions of democratic leaders BP Koirala, Girija Prasad Koirala and former party president Sher Bahadur Deuba.
During his address, Thapa expressed strong dissatisfaction with the current functioning of Parliament.
“We need the first Khula Manch inside Parliament, but Parliament today is not open; it is almost closed,” he said. “Until the prime minister is directly present in Parliament, it cannot truly be open and vibrant.”
Thapa stressed the need to create an environment where one generation can engage in open dialogue with another. He said the country and the party need open platforms for debate based on facts and reasoning, rising above the politics of reaction and retaliation.
Recalling the Nepali Congress’ historical journey and its role in the movement against the Rana regime, Thapa said the party could not be separated from the study of Nepal’s history. Remembering the families and martyrs who made sacrifices for the establishment of the party and democratic movements, he said, “Our history is glorious, but history gives us not only power, but also lessons. The Congress must learn from history.”
Recalling that the Nepali Congress was born in 2007 BS with answers to the biggest questions facing society and the times, Thapa said the party must now be capable of responding to the new challenges and questions raised by the new generation.
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