National Assembly Chairman Stresses Dialogue Over Destruction for Sustainable Development

Kathmandu. Chairman of the National Assembly, Narayan Prasad Dahal, has emphasized the need to abandon destructive paths and adopt dialogue and reform for the country's sustainable development and prosperity. Speaking at a program organized by Clickmandu to unveil a study report titled 'Business Environment After the Protests,' he stated that Nepal's future is secure only through trust and reform, not chaos.

Chairman Dahal warned that the events of Bhadra 23 and 24 have deeply hurt investor psychology, and the economy cannot strengthen until the private sector's confidence returns. He noted that while citizens raising their voices against corruption and misgovernance is justifiable, the physical destruction occurring under that guise pushes the country toward becoming a failed state.

‘Earning profit is not a crime; it is an essential basis for operating a business,’ he said. ‘Everyone needs to understand that new employment is created and the state receives taxes from the investment made by entrepreneurs taking risks and the profits they earn.’

Quoting the study report, Chairman Dahal informed that the private sector suffered direct physical damage of NPR 34 billion and indirect economic damage equivalent to NPR 81 billion during the Bhadra protests. He pointed out that the decline in morale among 98 percent of businesspeople and 97 percent feeling the investment climate is weak is a danger bell for the economy.

He asserted that although the agitation on Bhadra 23 was against corruption, the destruction on the 24th was not natural but an attack on the nation's very existence. Expressing concern that Nepal is still at risk of being placed on the FATF's 'Grey List,' he stated that commitment to good governance and international standards must be demonstrated in practice.

While it is natural for public anger to arise when the state fails to operate a proper governance system, the destruction of physical infrastructure is not the solution, he argued. He also expressed the commitment that the National Assembly will always be ready to ensure investment security and formulate business-friendly laws.