NRNA’s brush with politics

The Nepali Congress’s interference in the NRNA’s internal matters is deplorable.

Eighteen years ago, a few days before the first Non-Resident Nepali (NRN) Conference (NRN meaning people of Nepali origin living abroad), we were knocking on the doors of our politicians, lobbying for their support in restoring the rights of NRNs to live and work in Nepal and affirming our commitment to be a partner in Nepal’s socio-economic development. Our group included Upendra Mahato, Ram Thapa, Jiba Lamichhane and a few others. Mahato and Lamichhane later became president of the Non-Resident Nepali Association; Ram Thapa, the chief patron. We met GP Koirala and Sher Bahadur Deuba of the Nepali Congress, Pashupati Shamsher Rana of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party, and Madhav Kumar Nepal then of the CPN-UML. They all recognised the potential of the NRNs to assist in Nepal's development, and assured us of their support.