Nepali Congress Makwanpur Protests PM's Statement, Taxes, and Demolitions

Hetauda. Nepali Congress Makwanpur has drawn the government's attention by protesting Prime Minister Balendra Shah's statement in parliament, taxes imposed on education-health, VAT imposed on electricity, and the bulldozer terror on squatters.

In a memorandum submitted to the Prime Minister through the District Administration Office, Makwanpur on Sunday, the Congress stated that Prime Minister's statement in parliament, 'Nepal has also encroached upon Indian land,' has lowered the heads of the Nepali people, and demanded that the statement be immediately removed from the parliamentary records and a public apology be made.

The team, which reached the administration office under the leadership of District President Buddha Lama, demanded that the government make a clear statement to the parliament and the public regarding the Nepal-India border dispute.

The Congress has demanded the immediate repeal of the 3 percent tax imposed on the education and health sectors through the budget of the fiscal year 2083/84, calling it anti-people. The memorandum also stated that the quality of community schools and government hospitals should be improved to ensure quality education and health services for all citizens.

Similarly, it has been demanded that the government bring a policy to encourage electricity consumption by removing the VAT imposed on electricity, stating that imposing value-added tax (VAT) on electricity consumption is against the national policy of increasing energy use.

The Congress has urged to immediately stop the operation of bulldozers and removal of houses and huts by deploying police without alternative arrangements, stating that the squatter problem cannot be solved due to the impractical provisions of the Land and Forest Acts.

Through the memorandum, the Congress has also warned that if the government ignores these demands, peaceful and phased protest programs will be announced in collaboration with the concerned stakeholders.