NRNA President Shrestha’s Clarification: ‘KC Faction’s General Convention is Illegal’
Kathmandu.
Mahesh Shrestha, who was elected president from the unification general convention of the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) held last Baisakh (April/May), has asserted that the faction led by Badri KC has no authority to organize a separate general convention.
While the KC faction is preparing for the 12th general convention in October after completing elections of the National Coordination Councils (NCCs), Shrestha stated that since the dispute within the association is still under consideration in court, holding another convention would amount to defamation.
Speaking to journalists on Friday, Shrestha said:
“According to the directive of the Supreme Court, the unification general convention was held in Baisakh under the coordination of a high-level committee and in the presence of representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Law. That convention has already been recognized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In such a situation, any new general convention cannot be considered legal.”
According to Shrestha, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has always been involved in NRNA’s general conventions. The one held in Baisakh followed due legal procedures, and therefore, the convention now being planned by the KC faction will neither be legal nor receive institutional recognition.
He further clarified:
“Only if the court issues a new decision or if we all come together for a broader unification and agree to hold another general convention, then it can be possible. Otherwise, any other convention will not be legally valid.”
Shrestha also urged all NCCs not to participate in any one-sided convention and not to provide any financial contributions in the form of membership fees for it.
He warned,
“If any NCC participates unilaterally in such a convention or sends membership fees while the case is sub judice, we will not recognize them as part of the association.”
Additionally, he made it clear that if attempts are made to hold an illegal convention, legal action would be pursued.
Currently, six cases related to the NRNA dispute are under consideration in the Supreme Court, with a hearing scheduled for Shrawan 22 (August 7). Earlier, on Thursday, the cases had reached a full bench of judges who had declared their inability to hear the matter.
The bench included Justices Hari Prasad Phuyal, Dr. Manoj Kumar Sharma, and Dr. Kumar Chudal. Previously, on Asar 19 (July 3), the full bench had ordered that all related files be presented together.
