Govt’s first priority is to make Nepal free from COVID-19: President Bhandari

Kathmandu / May 15: President Bidya Bhandari has said that the priority of the government in the upcoming fiscal year would be to minimize the threats of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and make the country free from this global pandemic.

Presenting the government’s annual Policy and Programs in the joint session of the federal parliament, President Bhandari said that the government is determined to make Nepal a ‘coronavirus free’ country as this pandemic has left all aspects of life badly affected. “The first priority of the government is to make the country free from coronavirus,” she said.

The president also said that the government has enforced various measures to control the spread of coronavirus including expanding the scope of testing among people suspected to have been infected by this virus. “The government has purchased medical equipment and mobilized health workers to prevent and control coronavirus transmission,” she said.

President Bhandari said that the government is currently assessing the socio-economic impact of COVID-19 in the country. “The government is doing its best to ensure smooth supplies of goods at this hour of the pandemic,” she said.

Govt to issue new political map incorporating Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura: Prez Bhandari

President Bidya Bhandari has said that the government will immediately issue a new political map incorporating Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura encroached upon by India.

While presenting the government’s annual Policies and Programs at the joint session of parliament on Friday, President Bhandari also said that the government would make concrete diplomatic efforts to secure the Nepali territory encroached upon by the Indian side for the past several years.

“Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh and Kalapani are the territories of Nepal and a concrete diplomatic initiative shall be made to secure them. A new political map shall be issued by incorporating the missing land accordingly,” reads the Policies and Programs document read out in parliament by President Bhandari.

This comes in the wake of the Indian side claiming that the territory lies on the Indian side of the border. The Indian side has even refused to sit for talks to resolve the dispute based on historical evidence including the Sugauli Treaty that defines the border between Nepal and India.