KATHMANDU, Aug 9: At a time we of the country's major political parties are making their positions on recent decision of the Indian government to scrap Indian constitution's Article 370 that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir, the main opposition Nepali Congress (NC) has said the party shares same position as the government of Nepal.

Responding to a query from journalists during a press conference organized at the party's headquarters in Sanepa on Thursday, NC spokesman Bishwa Prakash Sharma said the entire country should have a common stance on such issues. “Nepali Congress will not have a separate stance than the government on the issue. So the government should make its position clear,” he said.

Sharma, however, said the opposition parties should be consulted while forging a common position on such issues.

Although many countries have already spoken for and against the Indian move, the government of Nepal has not yet spoken on the issue. Nepal has chosen to stay neutral on all disputes surrounding the Kashmir dispute.

Sources said India has apprised the Nepali ambassador in New Delhi and foreign ministry officials in Kathmandu about its move on Kashmir.

Addressing the press conference, NC spokesman Sharma expressed reservations over the government's plan to recognize trade unions other than the official one. He said that such a provision being made on the new Civil Service Bill goes against the spirit of the constitution.

Similarly, NC has demanded that the government investigate the illegal use of 160 ropani lands belonging to the New Bus Park in Gongabu and take action against those involved. The party also demanded that the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) relocate its headquarters elsewhere "as the current headquarters was built illegally on government land."

 
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