NC continues to advocate for formation of parliamentary probe committee
The main opposition Nepali Congress (NC) has continued to advocate for forming a parliamentary committee to probe into issues about cooperative mismanagement.
Taking time in a meeting of the House of Representatives today, party General Secretary Bishwa Prakash Sharma reiterated the party's voice for forming the parliamentary panel to investigate the alleged connection of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs in the cooperative fraud.
He utilized the forum to argue that the House is neither a venue for convicting anyone of any offense nor giving a clean chit on the charge. "Instead, the matter should be addressed through a due process."
Lawmaker Sharma also expressed concern over what he said the ruling party declaring the minister innocent from the House.
"The practice of declaring anyone guilty or innocent from a rostrum or a parliamentary floor is not good. If the Home Minister is not guilty, the right to be declared innocent by a parliamentary committee should be guaranteed."
He presented three reasons clarifying the need to form a parliamentary body to address the matter. "It is due to the realization of a conflict of interest, suspension of an official investigation into the cooperatives, and the issue requiring to be addressed by the parliamentary procedures."
The NC lawmaker wanted the government to bring a proposal to form the committee in the next lower house session.
He warned that the party would take up the issue more seriously in the days ahead and it is committed to its stance (of forming a parliamentary probe committee).
The ultimatum to the government for proceeding ahead with the constitution of the committee has been over, he said, hinting about the party's preparations for further amplifying the programs of protests over the matter.
He said that there is a misunderstanding at the civic level that the parliamentary proceedings have been halted due to the NC obstruction. On March 31, the Parliament held discussions on the agreement related to the International Solar Alliance (ISA). The following day, a proposal to seek considerations on the power trade bill was presented and on April 2, the House endorsed the BIMSETC Charter. He said he wanted to inform all Nepali citizens at home and abroad that the House continues its business.
Lawmaker Sharma said an atmosphere should be built for implementing a House calendar, making the House more systematic and accountable. Any matters that are at variance with the meeting agenda will be rejected by the party.
He also protested the presentations of issues in the rostrum sans an agreement in the Parliamentary Business Advisory and Consultative Committees.
Speaker Devraj Ghimire said the Constitution incorporates the provisions allowing time for the Prime Minister or a Minister to put views in the Parliament if requested. It is our practice and tradition to grant time to the Prime Minister and Ministers to express views if demanded, he said.
Chief Election Officer appointed for by-election in Ilam-2
The Chief Election Officer has been appointed for the by-election to be held in Ilam-2 on April 27.
The Election Commission appointed district Judge Keshav Prasad Ghimire as the Chief Election Officer in Ilam-2.
The District Election Office informed that the Office of the Chief Election Officer will be established at the district headquarters of Ilam on Thursday.
The final voters list will be published along with the establishment of the office of the Chief Returning Officer.
Filing of nomination papers for the election to elect a member to the House of Representative is scheduled to be held on April 6.
A total of 20 parties have been registered with the Election Commission for the by-election.
The Office said that the materials needed to hold the by-election will arrive from the center by April 5.
There will be 79 polling booths and 149 polling centers in Ilam-2.
According to the Commission, the final list of the candidates will be published and the candidates will be given election symbols on April 9.
Gandaki Province CM Pandey resigns
Gandaki Province Chief Minister Surendra Raj Pandey has resigned from his post on Wednesday. He submitted his resignation to Gandaki Province Chief, Dilli Raj Bhatta, today.
Chief Minister Pandey-led government was in minority after the CPN (Maoist Center), a partner in the ruling alliance, withdrew its support to the government on March 6.
Though there is a constitutional provision that a vote of confidence should be taken within 30 days after withdrawal of support, CM Pandey resigned from the post without seeking a trust vote.
Chief Minister Pandey said he resigned from the post as the situation did not warrant a vote of confidence after the change in power equation among the parties.
Out of 60 members in the Province Assembly, support of 31 members is required for forming the government. There are 27 members of the Nepali Congress, 22 of CPN-UML, seven of the CPN (Maoist Center), two of Rastriya Prajatantra Party and one independent member in the Gandaki Province Assembly.
'I worked sincerely for building a prosperous province'
Talking briefly to the media persons after submitting his resignation letter, Chief Minister Pandey said that he worked honestly after assuming the Chief Minister's office to make the province self-reliant and prosperous.
He claimed that the government has been successful in guaranteeing good governance and he is satisfied with the provincial government's work.
"I had made a plan to bring a new and implementable plan in the policies, programs and the budget for the upcoming fiscal year, based on the experiences of the 11-month office tenure. However, the political developments changed. I feel that I worked sincerely in connection to making the province self-reliant and prosperous," CM Pandey said.
He lamented that laws that are required to be made as per the constitution for the implementation of federalism have not been enacted as yet, and he played a key role for the enactment of such laws.
Nepal and Switzerland discuss bilateral cooperation on trade and tourism
The Nepal-Switzerland Bilateral Consultations Mechanism (BCM) meeting in Switzerland reviewed the entire spectrum of Nepal-Switzerland relations including economic ties, development partnership, multilateral cooperation, and contemporary global issues such as climate change and human rights.
The BCM also discussed the exchange of high-level visits, Nepal’s graduation from the LDC category, progress made towards meeting the Sustainable Development Goals, and ways to further enhance bilateral cooperation on trade, investment, tourism, science and technology, and vocational training, among others, according to the Nepali Embassy in Geneva.
The fourth meeting of the Nepal-Switzerland BCM was held at the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) in Bern, Switzerland on Tuesday.
Head of the Europe-Americas Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nepal, Joint Secretary Ganesh Prasad Dhakal and Assistant State Secretary for Asia and the Pacific in the FDFA of Switzerland, Heinrich Schellenberg led the respective delegations.
Nepali delegation included Ambassador of Nepal to Switzerland, Ram Prasad Subedi and the Embassy Officials whereas the Swiss Delegation included officials from the FDFA and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).
On the occasion Joint Secretary Dhakal requested the Swiss side to encourage the participation of their investors in the upcoming Nepal Investment Summit being held in Kathmandu this month.
The Nepali side thanked the Swiss Government for consistently placing Nepal as a priority country for Swiss Development Cooperation. While expressing satisfaction over Nepal’s progress, the Swiss side assured of their continued support to Nepal’s development endeavors.
Nepal-Switzerland Bilateral Consultations Mechanism was established in 2015 and the next meeting will be held in Kathmandu on mutually convenient dates, adds the Embassy.