While Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN-UML leaders proposed an economic policy that would promote the development of public, private and cooperative sectors on an equal footing, the Maoists stood against it. Maoist leaders said the state should be given a leading role.[break]
"We want to develop all the three -- public, private, cooperative -- sectors as equal partners in the economic development of the country. We also want to ensure independent development of each of the sectors as well as the development of public-private partnership," said NC leader Ramesh Lekhak, after a meeting on Friday of the high-level taskforce formed to settle disputes over constitution writing.
But Maoist leader Dev Gurung, a participant in the meeting, said his party is firmly against the policy of giving parallel status to all three sectors. "The three-pillar concept and the policy of partnership proposed by the NC won´t be acceptable. Allowing that is to undermine the role of the state in development," he said. Nepal Workers Peasants Party (NWPP) has backed the Maoist policy.
"It has been proved by experience and practice that opening the floodgates for the private sector and foreign investment without any conditions is to pave the way for a collapse of public institutions. Therefore we should promote a state-led economy," Bijukchhe told Republica.
Maoist leaders said they accept participation by the private sector and foreign investment in a supportive role in the development of the country but priority should be given to a state-led economy.
Gurung believes that national industry is on the verge of collapse due to the free flow of foreign investment and uncontrolled growth of the private sector. He said national industry should not be allowed to collapse in the name of accepting a liberal economic policy and free competition.
"Our national industry can´t compete in the international market. Therefore we must protect it by setting some conditions for the private sector and foreign investment," Gurung said.
- We are for public-private-cooperative partnership: Ramesh Lekhak
- Three-pillar concept and policy of partnership not acceptable. They undermine role of state: Dev Gurung
- Opening floodgates for private sector and foreign investment is to pave way for collapse of public institutions: Bijukchhe
Gurung, believed to be a hardliner within the Maoist party, said the state should play a leading role at least in providing essential services like health, education and transportation.
He was of the view that depending entirely on the private sector for essential services would be a wrong policy. "The state shouldn´t turn its back on the people when it comes to providing essential services to the public because the private sector provides such services only as long as they remain lucrative," Gurung explained.
Bharatmohan Adhikari of UML said his party is for adopting a policy that would ensure economic prosperity by promoting independent development of the public, cooperative and private sectors.
The taskforce meeting failed to reach any conclusion as the party leaders only reiterated their views as per the stances of their respective parties. The taskforce, which is headed by Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and includes top leaders of major political parties, held discussions on incorporating economic policies under the directive principles of the new constitution. It has so far resolved over 40 of the more than 220 disputes in statute drafting.
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