Submit your Article

Opposition parties have urged the government to immediately convene a session of the federal Parliament.

A meeting held today under the leadership of main opposition party Nepali Congress Parliamentary Party leader Bhishma Raj Angdembe took a decision to urge the government to withdraw the ordinance on amending the Constitutional Council Act, 2066 BS and the Cooperatives Act, 2074 BS and request it to instead submit to the House. 

CPN-UML Parliamentary Party leader Ram Bahadur Thapa, Nepali Communist Party Chief Whip Yubaraj Dulal, and Rastriya Prajatantra Party lawmaker Saraswati Lama were present in the meeting.

Resident Coordinator of the United Nations in Nepal Lila Peters Yahia today paid a courtesy call on Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal. 

A comprehensive discussion was held at the meeting on contemporary issues such as Nepal-United Nations collaboration, youth engagement, education, gender equality, diplomacy, and climate change, the Speaker's secretariat said. 

On the occasion, Speaker Aryal welcomed the UN Resident Coordinator and expressed the firm commitments on behalf of the Government of Nepal and the Federal Parliament to work in tandem with the United Nations. 

Highlighting remarkable participation of youth in the House of Representatives formed after the recent general election, Aryal described it as an epochal achievement in Nepal's democratic practice. 

"After the election, we are focused on advancing performance-oriented works," Speaker Aryal said, adding that, "Empowering youth and engaging the experience of previous generations is the need of the hour." 

He mentioned that increasing women's participation is essential for strengthening inclusive democracy. 

He clarified that the Parliament would lay its focus on effective lawmaking to bring improvements to fundamental sectors such as education and health through the coordination of experience, energy and capabilities across generations. 

Shedding light on Nepal's contribution to the peacekeeping mission, Speaker Aryal stated that Nepal is among the leading contributors to the United Nations peacekeeping missions. 

He also expressed commitment to making appropriate decisions through necessary studies in line with Nepal’s national interest regarding international treaties and conventions. 

Regarding the climate change issue, Speaker Aryal noted that although Nepal has insignificant carbon emissions, it is severely experiencing direct and disproportionate impacts. "The glaciers are melting rapidly, livelihoods are being affected and the frequency of disasters is increasing," he said, "Nepal has been continuously raising its voice at international platforms for climate justice." 

On this occasion, Residential Coordinator Yahia congratulated Speaker Aryal on behalf of the UN Secretary-General and the UN team in Nepal, lauding Nepal's democratic achievement. 

She noted that successful conduct of elections and forming a youth-oriented parliament after a transitional period is exemplary not only for Nepal but also for the world.

Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) President Rabi Lamichhane has said that the government will take responsibility for the proper management of homeless citizens.

In the informal meeting of the RSP Parliamentary Party held today at Singha Durbar, he stated that the government will ensure that no one becomes homeless during the management of settlements in disaster high-risk areas.

"Repeated notices have been issued to squatters in risky areas to relocate them to safe locations in a smooth manner. There is concern about the safe dwelling of citizens forced to live near drains and flood-prone areas, and it is the government's duty to be concerned about everyone's future," said RSP spokesperson Manish Jha, quoting President Lamichhane.

Lamichhane said that the problems related to squatter settlements across the country would be promptly addressed by forming a special commission.

"The government will not let any squatters be homeless; suggestions for necessary coordination are welcome, but unnecessary politicisation should be avoided. Forcing anyone to live at risk of floods and near sewers for 'vote bank' politics is wrong," he added.

'Ordinances are for necessary governance reforms, not to harass anyone'

President Lamichhane said that the government had recommended ordinances to meet public expectations and make necessary reforms.

"Until the past unnecessary partisanship and wrong appointments are corrected, the people’s expectations from this government cannot be fulfilled. Previously, the ordinances were used to split parties or suppress the opposition. The current practice is not to hurt anyone or provide favors to anyone; it is for necessary reforms," he said.

Stating that this step is a practice carried out within the legal framework, he said, "It also demonstrates how serious the RSP is towards law, political conduct, and the democratic system, even without the parliamentary committee chief of the opposition calling for the same.

The RSP President said that he is ready for any necessary facilitation in case anyone has difficulties while fulfilling duties as a people's representative. 

He also requested not to always wait for the meeting and to put forward one's views in writing in the RSP Parliamentary Party. .

Nepali Congress Parliamentary Party leader Bhishma Raj Angdembe has nominated Kamaladevi Pant as the leader of the party's parliamentary group in the National Assembly, the upper house of the Federal Parliament. 

He has nominated MP Pant to that position according to the Nepali Congress Parliamentary Party statute (including amendments and modifications, 2083).

Similarly, the Nepali Congress has stated that leader Angdembe has nominated Abhisek Pratap Shah as the deputy leader of the Parliamentary Party, Basana Thapa as the Chief Whip, and Nishkal Rai as the whip in the House of Representatives on behalf of the party.