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LONDON, May 3: The Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) clarified that it will not participate in the unity convention that former president Shesh Ghale plans to organize starting Saturday.
Speaking at a virtual press conference on Friday evening, the NRNA declared the convention unauthorized and criticized Ghale’s initiative.
NRNA President Dr Badri KC stated that the current executive committee, elected from the 11th General Convention, has no involvement in the event.
NRNA Unity Convention concludes
He said the organizers cannot call the event a unity convention because they moved forward unilaterally, ignoring the fact that a writ petition seeking an interim order from the court is still under consideration, which prohibits any such activities.
During the press conference, NRNA Vice President Dr Hem Raj Sharma reaffirmed his firm belief that the NRNA should remain non-political. He added, "We must make the Non-Resident Nepali Association independent and autonomous, and to achieve that, we need to amend the Non-Resident Nepali Act."
In a statement issued after the press conference, Spokesperson Phanindra Pant clarified that the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) operates according to its rules and constitution. He emphasized that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Government of Nepal serves as the association’s official supervising authority.
He also made it clear that the current executive committee, elected from the 11th General Convention, has no involvement in the so-called “Unity Convention” scheduled in Kathmandu from May 3–5, 2025.
Pant stated that the National Coordination Councils had already been informed not to participate in the event. He further highlighted that six of the 13 members of the high-level committee-including Founding President Dr Upendra Mahato, former Presidents Jiba Lamichhane and Kumar Pant, and founding figure Ram Pratap Thapa-have publicly announced their decision not to attend the convention. He concluded that under these circumstances, the proposed convention is more likely to deepen division than promote unity.
The statement states, "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which oversees the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA), has already sent a letter requesting the postponement of the General Convention scheduled for May 3 to 5, 2025. As the writ petition seeking an interim order is still under consideration by the court, any activity carried out without acknowledging this process cannot be considered a unity convention."
The statement further adds, "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through the Attorney General, has sent a letter to the Supreme Court. The bench, scheduled for Friday, May 2, 2025, has ordered the case to be presented before the appropriate bench. We hope that on Sunday, May 4, 2025, the Supreme Court will contribute to creating an environment for unity, just as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has aimed. Therefore, while the issue remains under judicial consideration, any planned convention that bypasses the court and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will not promote unity but will only lead to division."
