PM, politicos enjoy Trishuli rafting

KATHMANDU, March 27: Leaving the political mess behind, political leaders and entrepreneurs on Sunday reached Charaundi in Dhading for rafting on the Trishuli River as part of tourism promotion program held by the ruling CPN-UML.



As they gathered at Charaundi, the party leaders also reflected on their past performances, debated on several political issues, and made commitment to stand united on issues of economic development.[break]



“We politicians bungled the opportunities in the past; we have to handle things carefully,” said CPN-UML senior leader KP Oli.



Oli, who has lately been known for his attacks on the UCPN (Maoist), however, refrained from talking about the Maoist party.



His talks rather switched to development and environmental issues.



“We should put in efforts to promote tourism for the development of the country. But we should also be careful not to harm the ecology,” he said.



Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal was also not in a mood to talk about politics. “Journalist friends, I won´t talk about politics today,” Khanal said beginning his speech.



He urged all the stakeholders, including the political leaders and entrepreneurs, to join hands for economic development of the country. The prime minister was of the view that the various mass movements have changed the political landscape of Nepal, but underdevelopment and poverty plague the country.



Sharing his experience of rafting on Trishuli, former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal said all the party leaders should enjoy rafting and acknowledge the importance of tourism for economic development of the country.



“Tourism is the mainstay of economic development in Nepal,” he said.



Nepali Congress (NC) leader Surendra Pandey stressed on the need to promote internal tourism. “Although we have stayed out of the government, we are ready to join hands for the sake of economic development. We should not only bicker over power and politics."



Maoist lawmaker Angdaba Sherpa urged the government to formulate good policies for tourism promotion. “The tourism sector has a huge potential in Nepal,” he said stressing on the need for appropriate policy and programs to promote it.  



According to event organizing committee´s coordinator Chandra Rijal, over 400 people participated in the rafting.

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