Former NRNA President Criticizes Foreign Ministry for Lack of Support in Unification Efforts

Former President of the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA), Binod Kunwar, has expressed dissatisfaction, stating that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has failed to act as a guardian or facilitator for non-resident Nepalis. Addressing the 12th General Convention and Unification Assembly of the NRNA, Kunwar mentioned that the ministry has only behaved like a regulatory body.

‘We have always considered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Government of Nepal as our facilitators, but instead of facilitation, the ministry has acted like a regulatory institution,’ Kunwar said. ‘I want to express my sorrow that despite uniting with various ministers and the Prime Minister during different periods, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the secretaries did not make special efforts for unity.’

Recalling the disputes and divisions seen in the NRNA since the 2019 and 2021 general conventions, Kunwar stated that the organization has reached a point of unity following the Supreme Court's mandamus order. Noting that the current unification convention has largely completed the organization's unification, he added, ‘If this is not yet complete, the incoming new executive committee must complete it.’

Dissatisfaction Over Denying Voting Rights to All Registered Members

During his address, Kunwar expressed dissatisfaction that only a limited number of the millions of Nepalis living abroad were given the right to elect the leadership. He complained that even with the provision for online voting, the rights of many members were violated by not giving them the right to vote.

Similarly, he expressed regret that many representatives could not attend the general convention due to ongoing wars and unrest in regions like the Middle East (East Asia).

‘South Korea's Development Model Must Be Brought to Nepal’

Kunwar, who has been living in South Korea for the past 31 years, emphasized the need to bring South Korea's model and technology into Nepal for the country's development. ‘I have been in Korea since I was 18-19 years old. Seeing the development there, I have been continuously working on how to bring similar development and technology to Nepal, and I am also running some businesses,’ he said.

He opined that for Nepal's development, instead of solely looking towards Western nations, Nepal could become prosperous quickly if it focused its efforts on the large population and market of South Asia (India, Bangladesh, Pakistan).

Finally, Kunwar thanked the 10th executive committee and the Unification General Convention Committee for bringing the unification convention to this stage despite adverse circumstances, and wished the upcoming leadership complete success.