PM Karki urges alertness during election period

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Jan. 7: Prime Minister Sushila Karki and Madhes Province Chief Surendra Labh Karna held a meeting at the Prime Minister’s official residence in Baluwatar on Tuesday. 

The meeting centred on the law and order situation, which deteriorated in a few districts of Madhes Province after an incident that originated in Kamala Municipality, Dhanusha, on Sunday. The unrest later spread to Birgunj, prompting the local administration to impose a curfew from Monday evening to Tuesday afternoon. The Prime Minister expressed concern over the social disruptions, particularly in Birgunj at a time when the country is preparing to hold the House of Representatives elections. 

According to a statement by the Prime Minister’s Secretariat, the meeting focused on a range of contemporary political and social issues.

During the discussion, Prime Minister Karki commended Province Chief Karna for playing an effective and guardian-like role in resolving political challenges in Madhes Province. 

She also urged him to continue playing a similar role in addressing recent social issues surfaced the province.

“The guardian role you played in resolving the political problems in Madhes Province is commendable,” Prime Minister Karki said, adding, “I am confident that you will continue to bring together all sections of society to maintain peace and harmony.”

With the country gradually moving into an election atmosphere ahead of the polls scheduled for March 5, the Prime Minister stressed the need to remain alert to potential challenges during the period.

“The nation has now fully entered an election fever,” she said. “At such times, certain elements may attempt to create challenges. All stakeholders must therefore play their part in maintaining peace, harmony and tolerance in society. I urge you to take the initiative as a guardian figure and mobilise all state mechanisms to create a conducive environment for the elections.”

Province Chief Karna informed the Prime Minister that efforts were ongoing from his side to maintain peace and security in the province and that security and administrative mechanisms had already been mobilised.

On the occasion, he also briefed the Prime Minister on his work over the two months since assuming office. 

He also gifted the Prime Minister a replica of the Janaki Temple crafted by local Mithila artists, along with copies of his books.

Later, Prime Minister Karki wrote on her Facebook page about the key issues the two discussed in the meeting.

"Today, I and Surendra Labh Karna, Chief of Madhesh Province held a meeting at Baluwatar. During the meeting, we reviewed the efforts made to maintain peace, harmony, and tolerance while addressing the recently emerged political and social situation," she wrote.

As the country is moving toward a crucial phase of the electoral process, it has become necessary to remain alert to potential challenges and to mobilise all state mechanisms to create a conducive environment, she added. 

 Province Chief Karna has been playing a balanced and guardian-like role among the diverse sections and strata of society, and cooperation and support from all sides are expected in this regard, the PM wrote on her Facebook page.