Kathmandu. Nepali Congress leader and former Finance Minister Mahesh Acharya has said that the long-term plan of country’s economic development has been put on hold and it should not be delayed now.

Addressing the party’s general convention here today, Acharya said that the path of economic liberalization and development initiated by the Nepali Congress in 2048 BS has become weak in recent years. He pointed out the need to re-focus on social justice, employment generation and production-oriented economy.

Acharya said that it was imperative to combine the experience of the elders and the energy of the new generation in the party. “Learn from the knowledge of the elders and the new generation should connect it with modern thinking and technology,” he said.

Saying today’s general convention has given a clear message that the party would be run as per the statute, he expressed the belief that the new leadership of the party would establish a new method and culture in the days to come. Stressing on unity in the party, he said, “NC should stand on the same bridge, the river should not flow on one side and friends stand on the other side.” ”

Former Finance Minister Acharya said that the Nepali Congress should make a clear commitment not to allow such incidents to happen again in Nepal on September 7 and 24. Political instability has set back development, he said.

Stating that social justice and job creation were the major challenges of the day along with economic development, he stressed the need for a concrete policy and programme to stop the increasing outmigration of youths. “Prosperity is not possible unless we create opportunities in our own country,” Acharya said.

He was of the view that time has come for the NC to play a responsible role in Nepal’s foreign policy and in the international relations as well. Stating that Nepal’s image was weakening in the international arena lately due to various reasons, he underscored the need of increasing diplomatic activism to correct this trend.

Acharya expressed the view that politics should not be merely by singing the tales of past sufferings and incidents, but should be a medium to give people new hope and guarantee of reconstruction. “We should come up with a plan on how to build the country, not by telling the story of the burning of Singha Durbar,” he said.