Nepal PM Oli vows to develop Province no. 2

In his maiden address in the Province no. 2 Assembly, Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli promised to develop the region without any further delay.

"There is no place which can be called inaccessible. Despite being the fact that the literacy rate of the province is only 41 per cent, 59 per cent of the total population is still illiterate. Only 26 per cent of the population in the province has access to toilets. 74 per cent still lack access to toilets. We will work for it, without any further delay," Prime Minister Oli said.

The Province no. 2 of Federal Nepal had been the centre of protest for the Madhesh-based parties in 2015.

Prime Minister Oli who was always characterised as an "anti-Madhesi", held discussions with the Chief Minister, Speaker, Deputy Speaker and other senior ministers of Province no. 2 prior to his address.

The Province no. 2, which still has reservations, such as the provisions of citizenship of the province is seeking some amendment in it. The September 2015 constitution promulgation had led to massive violence in the southern plains of Nepal, where over 100 people were killed, with the blame landing on the then Oli government for using excessive force.

But the 66-year-old leader, who is the first Prime Minister of Federal Nepal noted that the constitution can be amended on the basis of its need.

Although Prime Minister Oli addressed the Provincial Assembly of Province no. 2, the leaders and the members from the Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal which protested against the government during the 2015 Madhesi movement boycotted it.