Birgunj: The Aam Janata Party (Ajapa) is organizing a grand assembly with the aim of pressuring the government to declare Birgunj as the economic capital of Nepal. The assembly is scheduled to take place at the Town Hall in Birgunj this Wednesday (June 16).
The district committee of Ajapa in Parsa is organizing the event, which will be attended by the party’s central chairman and former minister, Prabhu Sah, as the chief guest. The assembly will see the participation of representatives from the Birgunj Chamber of Commerce and Industry, local industrialists, traders, various social organizations, and representatives from Bara and Parsa districts, according to Ajapa central committee secretary Baburam Kaushik.
Umesh Kushwaha, the president of Ajapa’s Madhes Province, stated that the assembly aims to pressure the government to recognize Birgunj as the country’s economic capital. “Birgunj is the nation’s economic capital. It is the hub of the most industrial and commercial activities in Bara and Parsa. The majority of the revenue is generated from the Birgunj Customs,” said Kushwaha. “As the economic capital, Birgunj should be developed accordingly. It is not acceptable that the government collects revenue from here but does not invest back. Therefore, we demand that the government officially declare Birgunj as the economic capital and invest accordingly.”
To ensure the success of the assembly, Ajapa has been holding discussions and meetings in various locations. Party leaders are actively engaging in gatherings, discussions, and committee formations. Recently, a ward-level women’s assembly was held in Ward No. 7 of Pokhari Municipality in Parsa. The assembly, organized by Ajapa’s women’s front, elected Shobha Devi as president, Laxmi Devi, Uma Devi, and Kalawati Devi as vice presidents, Sushila Devi as secretary, and Shivdulari Paswan as joint secretary, forming a 41-member committee. This was confirmed by Kadam Rasul, Ajapa’s in-charge for Parsa.
The assemblies and discussions held across different locations have seen significant participation from party leaders, including Secretary Kaushik, Provincial President Kushwaha, and Parsa Secretary Bishwajit Patel, as reported by Ramsharan Yadav, a central member of Ajapa’s IT army.
Ajapa’s leadership emphasizes the necessity of developing Birgunj in line with its economic significance. The city, being a major industrial and trade hub, generates substantial revenue for the country. However, the lack of proportional government investment in Birgunj has been a point of contention. Ajapa’s demand for declaring Birgunj as the economic capital is rooted in the belief that such a status would compel the government to invest more significantly in the city’s infrastructure and development projects.
The grand assembly organized by Ajapa is a strategic move to gather support and create pressure on the government to recognize Birgunj’s vital economic role formally. By involving key stakeholders from the business community, social organizations, and local representatives, Ajapa aims to build a strong case for Birgunj’s declaration as Nepal’s economic capital. This initiative is expected to drive development and bring about necessary investments in the region, ultimately benefiting the local economy and its residents.
