SUSHIL KOIRALA SAYS NO DISUPTE IN NC ON LEADERSHIP Kathmandu, 11 Sept.: President of the Nepali Congress (NC), Sushil Koirala, has said the UCPN-Maoist could not be believed as it has betrayed frequently by violating the past agreements, RSS reports from Parbat. At a news conference organized by the Parbat chapter of the Nepal Press Union at the district headquarters today, Koirala said the UCPN-Maoist could not be believed as it betrayed every time in the journey with them right from the 12-point agreement. The NC President said "Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai should step down immediately to give a way out to the country by forging consensus". He further said there is no problem in leadership as the NC would lead the next national consensus government. Koirala said there is also no problem in the NC over leadership as it could be decided within an hour after Dr. Bhattarai steps down. He said there is no dispute on the leadership of the next national consensus government in his party as all the disputes have been resolved. nnnn PM SAYS GOVT. COMMITTED TO PROMOTING COTTAGE INDUSTRY Kathmandu, 11 Sept.: Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai has said the government is committed for the promotion of the cottage and small industries and added he is firm on the country's industrial progress. Inaugurating the 20th National General Convention of the Federation of Nepalese Cottage and Small Industries (FNCSI) and the 18th conference of National Women Entrepreneurs here today, Prime Minister Dr. Bhattarai said the government has formulated necessary policies for the promotion of indigenous industries. Informing about the policy adopted by the government for the development of the cottage and small industries, he said "Policy of purchasing homemade goods has been adopted even if they are 15 per cent more expensive". Assuring that the government would help as far as possible for the expansion of markets for production of indigenous industries, the Prime Minister called on the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) to play a leading role for the overall prosperity of the industries of the country. Stating that cottage and small industries are the major source of earning foreign currency, he said the government is active to resolve the problems faced by the sector. Bhattarai said the government has involved in creating an environment of employment in the country by using the existing means and resources and added that initiatives are underway to stop the youth from going to foreign countries seeking employment, through the Youth Self-Employment Programme. Prime Minister Bhattarai stressed that the country could benefit from double digit economic growth achieved by India and China and added that entrepreneurs should be involved in raising the national economy. On the occasion, the Prime Minister also released the Souvenir published by FNCSI. Similarly, Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, Dr. Keshav Man Shakya, said the government has given top priority for the establishment of Sajha Kendra, Goods Development and Technology Transfer Centre and the Integrated Commercial Development Service Programme to provide necessary services to micro, cottage and small entrepreneurs in easy and smooth manner. Acting Chairman of FNCCI, Bhaskarraj Rajkarnikar said the FNCCI is committed to move ahead by collaborating with FNCSI. Chairman of the Federation, Lata Pyakurel, complained that micro, cottage and small entrepreneurs based on forest and mines have been victimized due to unclear policies and impractical laws of the government and stressed that the government should promote cottage and small industries to increase economic growth rate of the country. nnnn