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The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has stated that it will decide on the case involving Deputy Speaker Indira Rana Magar after observing the actions taken by the ruling parties. The controversy stems from a letter Rana Magar wrote to the US Embassy in February 2023, requesting a visa interview for an individual unrelated to the Parliament Secretariat. This move has raised concerns among the ruling parties, who questioned her actions, suggesting that the Deputy Speaker’s conduct has undermined the dignity of the office.

In response, the RSP held a secretariat meeting on Wednesday at its parliamentary party office in Singha Durbar. The party decided to adopt a ‘wait and see’ approach before taking any formal action. RSP Acting Spokesperson Manish Jha stated, “As it is not yet clear what the ruling parties will do, we have only discussed the matter without reaching a formal decision.” He added that the party is closely monitoring the situation and is prepared to respond assertively if necessary.

While acknowledging that Rana Magar’s action of writing the letter for a visa interview was inappropriate, Jha said that the case that took place over 18 months ago is now being exploited for political gain.

Meanwhile, the Nepali Congress has called for the resignation of Deputy Speaker Rana Magar. During a meeting of top Congress leaders on Wednesday morning, the party concluded that Rana Magar had discredited the nation with her actions. Congress Chief Whip Shyam Ghimire said, “We believe she should choose to step down rather than face formal procedures.”

The letter in question requested visa interviews for five individuals to attend the 67th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. However, the individuals were unable to travel to the US. Following the public release of the letter, Deputy Speaker Rana Magar faced intense scrutiny and controversy.

During a joint meeting of Congress office bearers and former office holders, Ghimire emphasized that this is a significant issue. “This is not a trivial matter. The Deputy Speaker has acted inappropriately by bypassing the necessary foreign affairs procedures,” he said, adding that Parliament itself has been insulted by her actions.

The ruling coalition has reportedly begun preparations to remove Rana Magar from her post. A top-level meeting of Congress has decided to hold further discussions with coalition partners to push for her dismissal. Ghimire also mentioned that a meeting of the Congress parliamentary party will be called to deliberate on the matter.

On Monday evening, the ruling parties discussed the issue at a meeting held at the Prime Minister’s residence in Baluwatar. During Tuesday’s parliamentary session, members from both the opposition and ruling parties expressed their concerns about the Deputy Speaker’s actions.

President Ram Chandra Paudel has said the annual reports of the National Security Council are historic documents.

Receiving the annual reports of the Council for the past two fiscal years 2079/80 BS (2022/23) and 2080/81 BS (2023/24) from Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli amidst a function at the Office of the Shital Niwas on Tuesday, he insisted on the full implementation of the reports incorporating the overall challenges.

He thanked all, including the Prime Minister and the Council Chair who contributed to the preparations of the reports, according to Council Member Secretary and Secretary at the Ministry of Defense, Rameshwor Dangal.

The reports presented the details about decisions made and major works executed by the Council in the past two years with international, regional, and national security analysis.

Submitting the documents to the Head-of-the-State, the Prime Minister said dimensions of international, regional, and national security and related challenges are changing with time. He stated that economic, strategic, and diplomatic competitive rivalry among the major power nations and the regional powers have gradual impacts on the country's economic and foreign relations policies.

A new form of security atmosphere is likely to emerge in the world security theatre due to various ongoing wars, conflicts, and strife in the international maritime transport routes. The rapid and unprecedented development in the area of information technology has contributed hugely to the world's socio-economic development, while also inducing additional complexities and challenges in the security sector simultaneously, according to the President.

He said the reports have advised diplomatic, strategic, economic, social, and security measures to be implemented ahead keeping the overall national security in the center with consideration to possible challenges due to international, regional, and national security scenarios.

In accordance with Article 266(3) of the Constitution, the National Security Council shall submit its annual report to the President, and the President shall cause the report to be presented through the Prime Minister before the Federal Parliament.

The Constitution has provisioned the National Security Council for making recommendations to the government, Council of Ministers for the formulation of a policy on overall national interest, security and defense of Nepal, and the mobilization and control of the Nepal Army.

It consists of the Prime Minister as the Chairperson and ministers of defense, home affairs, foreign affairs and finance, the chief secretary, and the Nepali Army chief as the members. 

The secretary at the Ministry of Defense shall constitutionally act as the member secretary of the National Security Council.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli underscored doubling agricultural production and called for adopting modern and productive agriculture rising above subsistence farming.

PM Oli, also Chancellor of the Agriculture and Forestry University (AFU), said so while addressing the 13th annual general assembly of AFU from the official residence of the Prime Minister at Baluwatar today.

Insisting that we should remove the reliance on farming for livelihood, Oli viewed that agricultural production would be boosted with thorough study on what crops could be planted where and how the market could be expanded for those products.

For that, he emphasized collaboration among government, cooperatives and the private sector. The Head of the Government requested the AFU to produce skilled agriculture scientists, engineers as well as other human resources given the increasing need and demand of human resources in the agriculture-based country like Nepal.

Around 66 percent of Nepal's population is engaged in the agriculture sector and this sector contributes one-third of the nation's GDP, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

PM Oli in his address further asserted that modern systems and mass production find a market. We will suffer a trade deficit until we increase our production. The tendency of running an economy on the basis of exports and remittance should be bucked," he stressed.

Furthermore, he shared that the government was planning fruit cultivation in vacant land in the forest. In this way we could ensure agriculture contributes to the national economy and thereby increasing self-reliance on food production."

CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal said that his party has witnessed people's attraction throughout the country.

Welcoming to the new entrants to the party at Ramgopalpur in Mahottari, Chair Dahal claimed attraction to the party has increased due to the performance of the Maoist party-led government and its agenda.

"The Maoist party has been established as a force to fight for identity", he claimed, adding, "With its clear agenda on good governance, social justice and prosperity, the Maoist party has gained attraction among the people across the country".

He said that the country is now running on the agenda of the Maoists from a political point of view. Dahal also argued that the Maoist Center is better than other parties for its novelty in performance in the government.

"The Maoists have put forward all the agendas including political changes on the basis of people's war and people's movement, election to the Constituent Assembly, declaration of republic, constitution making, provision of federalism, proportional and inclusive representation through the constitution," he said.