Lawmakers welcome government’s decision not to proceed with SPP
Lawmakers have welcomed the government’s decision not to proceed with the State Partnership Programme (SPP) proposed by the United States of America.
Putting their views at today’s meeting of the House of Representatives, Bhim Rawal and Hari Raj Adhikari welcomed and thanked the government for this decision while Rawal demanded that the Prime Minister additionally clarify the matter at the Parliament.
Sanjaya Kumar Gautam urged the government to seek alternatives to resolve the crisis of fertilizers, and increasing price of petroleum products and to adopt preparedness to reduce loss caused by monsoon-caused disasters.
Anil Kumar Jha asked the government to take initiatives to save Gaur and other rural areas in Rautahat district that are at risk of being flooded due to ‘unmanaged’ Intensive Urban Development Project under the Ministry of Urban Development.
Rajendra Prasad Lingden criticised the government for not exempting taxes on electric vehicles in the budget for the next fiscal year, 2022/23 under the ‘influence of a handful businesspersons’ instead of encouraging them in the context when the price of petroleum products is soaring.
Prem Suwal and Khaga Raj Adhikari accused the government of ‘undermining’ the health insurance programme by handing it to the private sector.
Two bills send to concerned committees for clause-wise discussion
The Parliament sent the 'Social Security (First Amendment) Bill-2079' and the 'Acid and other Hazardous Chemical Substances (Regulation) Bill-2079' to the concerned committees for clause-wise discussion.
In the meeting of the House of Representatives on Tuesday, Home Minister Bal Krishna Khand presented the proposal, seeking consideration to send the bills to the concerned committees for the clause-wise discussion.
The proposal was passed unanimously.
Nepal should present itself with trustworthy policy and behavior with neighboring countries: Oli
CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli has said that there should be a national consensus among major political parties on the fundamental issues of foreign policy and international relations.
Speaking at a program organized by the Association of Former Nepali Ambassadors (AFNA) he said stability in the domestic polity is a prerequisite for the effective and smooth functioning of external relations.
The former prime minister further added that Nepal should present itself with a reliable and trustworthy policy and behavior while dealing with neighboring countries. The main opposition leader was of the view that Nepal should present all its issues in a frank and clear manner with neighboring countries. He said only an open and frank exchange of dialogue can bring about cordiality in bilateral relations.
“If there was not internal political upheaval, the map row with India would have been already resolved,” said Oli who as a prime minister took the initiative to issue a new political map incorporating Kalapani, Lipulekh, and Limpiyadurha. In the bilateral talks with the Indian counterpart, I had presented all the issues in a free and frank manner, he said.
The former Prime Minister Oli laid emphasis on the need of resolving problems by holding discussions if any problem surfaces in foreign relations. He shared, "Nepal should present itself with reliable and trustworthy policy and behavior before the neighboring countries. Dual characters should not be shown. We should not play any card on the issue of international relations."
The UML chair clarified that although any country may be small in population and geography, Nepal could hold discussions with all countries of the world without any hesitation as the sovereignty of each country is equal.
Oli further added that the government is not consulting with the main opposition party while taking vital decisions related to foreign policy. There is a tradition of soliciting the views of opposition parties before the prime minister's foreign visit but the current government has not reached out to us, he said.
Lucky Sherpa, former Ambassador and general secretary of AFNA informed that their plan of holding a series of dialogues on foreign policy issues of Nepal.
“We plan to hold a series of dialogues with leaders of major political parties to forge a national consensus on key fundamental issues of foreign policy,” she said. She further added that matters related to foreign policy should not be politicized and there should be broader consultations and discussions before taking a decision on key foreign policy matters.
NA Chair directs government to inform House regarding reason for price hike
National Assembly (NA) Chairman Ganesh Prasad Timilsina directed the government to respond to the House about the reason behind increasing the prices of petroleum products and daily essentials.
In today's NA meeting, lawmakers of the main opposition party- CPN-UML- called on the government to make the people clear about the price hike and drew the attention of NA Chair Timilsina to issue directives to the government in this regard.
Drawing the government's serious attention towards price hike, NA Chair Timilsina directed the concerned ministers to respond to this issue in the next meeting of the Upper House of the Federal Parliament.
"Issues of public concern like price hike have been raised in the NA meeting. The NA members have raised this issue again in today's meeting. It is the responsibility of the government to answer the people over the issues raised through the House. I want to draw serious attention from the government towards it. I direct the concerned ministers to respond to this issue in the next meeting," he mentioned.
CPN-UML Chief Whip in the National Assembly Khimlal Bhattarai said that they would not allow the House to proceed with its business until the concerned ministers give clear answers.
Bhattarai demanded that the government bring a clear plan with a relief package in order to provide concessions to the people affected by the price hike.
After UML's protest, NA Chair Timilsina announced postponement of today's meeting which had an agenda to hold discussions on different headings of the Appropriation Bill-2079.
The next meeting of the NA has been scheduled at 1 pm on Wednesday.