25th Poush, Kathmandu. Addressing the first meeting of the House of Representatives on Monday, Nepali Congress Chairman Sher Bahadur Deuba congratulated Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda.
And pointing to the power equation, he said, ‘May this term of the House of Representatives make a special contribution for the protection, implementation and strengthening of the federal democratic republican system.’
CPN-UML President KP Sharma Oli, the architect of Prachanda’s government formation, did not understand that Deuba was pointing towards the power partner parties. Oli, who reached the rostrum after Deuba, said, ‘Netaji of the main opposition party raised some political issues. But today I don’t want to discuss the matter of greetings.’
He not only said that the issues raised by Deuba can be discussed in Parliament or elsewhere in due course, he suggested not to engage in a new equation game on Congress. If all the time of MPs and leaders is spent in gossip, when will they work for the country? What to do when? Therefore, let’s take the path of work, not trickery,’ said UML President Oli.
Urging all the parties to work together, he said, ‘It will be a waste of time if we go to the game of ruining the government (trying to topple the government).’
Not only Deuba and Oli, but the top leaders of all parties have made their agenda clear.
The Prime Minister and Chairman of the Maoist Center, Prachanda, who stood on the rostrum as the first speaker, clearly indicated that he will not remain as the Prime Minister of the former Prime Minister. He said that he wants to work in such a way that the people can feel the change.
Even from outside the parliament, Prachanda is saying that he will not be innocent as the Prime Minister. In our system, our constitution, the system envisaged by the constitution, the prime minister is the prime minister. Our constitution, our laws, laws and norms do not allow him to act under the influence, circle, or pressure of anyone.” Our constitution does not envisage living under pressure or being innocent.’
Of course, Prachanda has a clear indication that he will not work only as a UML guise government.
Congress President Deuba did not show anger that he was not able to lead the government even though he was the first party. He did not even complain to Prachanda who left him and went to UML. Instead, he wished success, ‘Prachanda has become the prime minister, a new cabinet has been formed. I want to congratulate Prachandaji.’
Deuba, who read the written address, made it clear what the priority of the Congress is as an opposition party.
Thanking the voters for making the Congress the first party, he said, “We will continue unswervingly in our goal of achieving sustainable peace, good governance, development and prosperity in the country by protecting and implementing the constitution, strengthening the federal democratic republican governance system.” He said that even in the Parliament, the Congress will be united, responsible and creative and will pay special attention to issues related to people’s lives.
UML President Oli not only gave the Prime Minister the courage to get a vote of confidence, but also reminded that there are challenges. Regarding the dissolution of the House of Representatives, Oli attacked both Prime Minister Prachanda and Congress President Deuba.
He said that the dissolution of the House of Representatives was rumored to be regression, he said, ‘How many times has regression happened in Britain! I don’t even know that much. Let’s not do so many explanations according to the occasion.’
Congress General Minister Gagan Thapa claims that this expression will plant the seeds of hatred between Prachanda and Oli.
After the Parliament meeting, he said, ‘(Oli) the dissolution of the House of Representatives was in favor of the people, and those who call it regressive are regressive, but I felt sympathy when I saw that the Prime Minister was confused about whether to knock the table or not.’
RSVP and Janamat are new players
The Rashtriya Swatantra Party (RASWPA) and the Janmat Party, which emerged from the November 4 election, have made their agendas clear in the first meeting of the House of Representatives. The state of implementation of their agendas has clearly indicated that they will decide whether they will stay in the government or not, whether they will support the government or not, even if they are the ruling party in the parliament, they will raise the agenda with determination.
Prime Minister Prachanda welcomed the new parties added to the House of Representatives. New faces have been added. I would like to say from the bottom of my heart – your entry is a victory for democracy and civil sovereignty. You definitely have the urge and hustle to do something. That is the new capital of this Parliament.’
Ravi Lamichhane, chairman of the RSVP, who was the home minister in the Prachanda-led government, and CK Raut, the chairman of the Janamat Party participating in the government, recalled this statement of Prachanda.
Lamichhane’s answer to Prachanda is, ‘Let us call it suspicion or reproach, the vote you have received is a vote of disappointment. However, I would like to say that this is not a vote of despair, but a vote of hope given to the country by the Nepali people.’
He said that hope is not only for his party but for all political parties. He said, ‘We have found that the Nepalese people voted very well this time knowingly or unknowingly. They have voted in such a large number that even a new political party like us is not affected. And, old political parties have also been reduced in such a way that they should be corrected.’
Raswapa Chairman Lamichhane made it clear that they did not join the government just to form a government. This time, the government has been formed in such a way as to respect the votes given by the Nepali citizens and address them through a common minimum common program. That is the true value of public opinion,’ he said.
He announced on the first day that he would leave the government if it did not work according to the promises made by the top leaders with the minimum common program. If there is any shortcoming in this commitment (minimum common program), we will not stick to the government or position. I want to make this promise to the honorable Prime Minister through this rostrum,” said Lamichhane, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister.
Of course, there is a clear voice of Lamichhane who wants to raise the issues raised in the past in the government. “On the first day of the parliament session, we have to say – when there have been various scandals of corruption for years and the people are disappointed, will the next parliament continue to carry that burden or will it shed that burden?” asked Lamichhane. He has also demanded solidarity to open all the old corruption files.
Similarly, Janamat Party President Sike Raut appeared in Parliament. He made his point clear. ‘Where once it was forbidden to even take my name. He started his speech by saying that standing there and speaking is a new experience. He named the martyrs. Remembered Gajendra Narayan Singh and Upendra Yadav. And directly responded to Prime Minister Prachanda’s comments about the new parties.
The Honorable Prime Minister welcomed the arrival of new parties. He said they also have passion. I want to assure him to be sure that we have not only passion, but also respect for our elders,” Raut said.
He said that their passion is the desire for change within the people. Chairman Raut said that he will continue to support the federal democratic republic. Janmat Party Chairman Raut said that federalism is inevitable. “I am standing before you as a living proof that it is indispensable for the integrity of this country,” he said, “I believe that this government will take appropriate steps to strengthen federalism.”
In other words, he tried to show his diplomatic skills by trying to destroy the portrayal of him as a subversive of the country in the past. Claiming that there is a republic in Nepal while the world does not understand the republic, he mentioned that the republic was taken away in the past. After that, Chairman Raut expressed confidence that the government will address the issues of education, health, employment and farmers. He said that he will raise this issue in the parliament.
Now let’s give the solution
In the first meeting of the House of Representatives, it is a practice for the top leaders of all parties to address greetings. According to this practice, the leaders of all the parties presented their views in the first meeting of the House of Representatives. The leaders showed the problem, explained the problem. He also suggested a solution.
Everyone raised education, health and employment. He raised the issue of industrialization of agriculture, easy availability of fertilizers and seeds. Under the implementation of the Constitution, he pointed out the need for legislation such as the Citizenship Bill, the Citizenship Bill. At the same time, he expressed concern that the country may fall into an economic crisis.
The top leaders have also pointed out the need for uniformity in speech and behavior from warning each other. President of United Samajwadi Party Madhav Kumar Nepal congratulated Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda and said, ‘Let the work move forward so that the people can feel the change. Let there be harmony in speech and behavior.’ At the same time, he also mentioned the issue of the government’s stability, ‘We also do not want the government to change suddenly.’
Rashtriya Janamorcha (Rajmo) President Chitra Bahadur KC also sought uniformity in the speech and behavior of the leaders. Mentioning that he has been in the parliament four times including this time, he said, ‘corruption should be done in the country, nationality, sovereignty and integrity should be bargained for. After that, you have to go to the government. Black marketers should be protected. I have not heard from this rostrum that the government should be run in the setting.’ Speaker KC narrated the experience that sweet and slippery things are always being presented in the Parliament.
Leader of the parliamentary party of Janata Samajwadi Party (JSP) Ramsahay Prasad Yadav said that everyone should be adopted in the constitution and the state should be empowered. He urged to pass the Citizenship Bill immediately. The Citizenship Bill, which was passed by both Houses after a long discussion in the previous Parliament and reached the President, has not been verified. Leader Yadav expressed dissatisfaction with this.
RPP Chairman Rajendra Lingden said that no party should do anything alone. ‘No political party can go ahead alone. We cannot go by banning any party and idea’, he said, ‘This country can be saved only if all parties and all ideas come together. There is a mandate that the problem can be solved.’
In the 2074 election, he was elected alone to the House of Representatives from RPP. This time, there are 14 MPs of the RPP, both directly and proportionally. President Lingden has promised that the RPP will be strong in the issues of nationality, national unity, good governance, development and service delivery through the power of 14 people.
The president of the Civil Liberties Party, Ranjita Shrestha, said that she came to the parliament while demanding the release of Resham Chaudhary. Of course, he clearly says that the release of Resham Chaudhary is their main agenda. At the same time, he demanded that the report of the Red Commission should be made public and that Tharus in jail should be released.
Prem Suwal, Member of Parliament of Nepal Labor Kisan Party, suggested that the new parliament should not be like the past. He says that it is necessary to make the parliament an academic place. MP Suwal said that SPP and MCC are against the interests of Nepal and why demanded their cancellation.
Of course, for the next five years, MP Suwal will continue to raise similar issues in Parliament.
Independent Member of Parliament Amresh Kumar Singh emphasized that Nepal should be made livable for all Nepalis. He goes to Malaysia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia to eat. The destination is America, Europe and Australia. These two-class people do not live here (in Nepal)’ he adds, ‘We all know about this.’ Now he insists that the solution should be focused. He insists that the party system in all structures of the country should be ended.
Independent MP Yogendra Mandal, who spoke last in the House of Representatives on the first day, suggested what could be the solution to the issue of public welfare. His suggestion is to increase the production in agriculture, to do processing and to guarantee it to the market.
He is of the opinion that in order to improve community education, we can go to the system of no work no payment or we can give incentives to teachers based on the passing percentage of students. He emphasized that Nepal’s ability to eliminate the problem of unemployment should be identified. He thinks that emphasis can be placed on tourism to end unemployment. Mandal says that the production of herbs produced only in Nepal can be encouraged.
‘Let’s make a target, what to do in 6 months, what to do in a year, what to do in a year and a half?’ His suggestion to Prime Minister Prachanda is, ‘I have heard – Prime Minister’s Alopalo Hey. It is one and a half years. A year and a half means that we can send a child born today to school. It’s such a big time.’
Photos: Chandra Bahadur Ale/Online News.
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