‘Defence Ministry is actively fulfilling its designated responsibilities’

KATHMANDU: Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Rekha Sharma, has said that the Ministry of Defence is always active in fulfilling its responsibilities as specified by the Government of Nepal, Work Division Regulations, as permitted by the means and resources at its disposal.

She said so responding, on behalf the Prime Minister and Defence Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, to the queries, suggestions and comments related to the Ministry of Defence and the bodies under it during deliberations on the Appropriation Bill, 2081 in a meeting of the National Assembly today.

Minister Sharma stated that the Nepali Army is dedicated to defending the national independence, sovereignty, territorial indivisibility, autonomy and national unity in accordance with the Constitution, the Army Act, 2063 and the security-related laws of the Government of Nepal, the National Security Policy, 2075.

Also the government spokesperson, Minister Sharma made it clear that there is no doubt the Nepali Army would be mobilized for securing the country’s borders at any time and under circumstances if required and directed so in accordance with the Constitution.

Responding to questions raised over the Army’s involvement in the construction of the Kathmandu-Terai/Madhesh Expressway Project, she referred to the provision in the Constitution stipulating the mobilization of the Nepali Army in the development and construction works if required. As she said, the government decides when, where and in what types of construction works to mobilize the Army.

Minister Sharma made it clear that the responsibility for the construction of the Kathmandu-Terai Madhesh Expressway Project has been assigned to the Nepali Army in line with this policy and in accordance with the decision of the Government of Nepal, Council of Ministers on May 4, 2017.

Stating that the Nepali Army is not involved in any kind of profit-making business activity, she said the Army Welfare Fund has been set up by setting aside a certain percentage of the amount that the soldiers get as remuneration and allowances when they are deputed in the peace keeping missions of the United Nations.

“I would like to make it clear that service-oriented activities are operated from the Army Welfare Fund for the economic, social welfare and education and medical care of the currently serving and former soldiers and their dependants and the orphaned families, with the approval of the Government of Nepal,” Minister Sharma said, adding that the activities carried out for the army’s welfare by using the Army Welfare Fund should not be understood as the Army running profit-making business.

She asserted that the government is clear on making the existing security situation more robust and stronger, and accordingly carry out the modernization, strengthening and enhancing the professional capacity of all the security organs including the Nepali Army.

Minister Sharma stressed on allocating adequate budget for enhancing the capability and morale of the Nepali Army and for making it a capable, modern, further professional and based on technology in tune with the time.