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Speaker Devraj Ghimire made a ruling in the House of Representatives (HoR) session today, urging the government to address concerns raised by the opposition parties in the Parliament including in zero and special hours.

He drew serious attention of the relevant minister towards that end as per the Rule 15(2) of the House of Representatives Regulations-2079 BS.

In the lower house meeting today, the opposition parties including the CPN (Maoist Center) demanded the government to inform them about the clarification sought from the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) Managing Director. They called for the Speaker's ruling towards that end.

Once the meeting convened, the members from the opposition parties stood from their respective seats and the Speaker granted time to Maoist Center's Chief Whip Hitraj Pandey to put his views.

Airing his views, Pandey said they wanted to be clear about the reports the government has been continuously seeking clarifications from NEA Managing Director Ghising and he was also given zero during the work performance evaluation.

Speaker Devraj Ghimire has said the National Democracy Day will inspire to remain committed to democratic values and ideals.

In a message of best wishes on the occasion of the National Democracy Day today, Speaker Ghimire paid deep tributes to the brave martyrs who sacrificed their lives to realize the dream of democracy, people's supremacy and civil liberties.

"The democratic movement of 2007 BS liberated the Nepali people from the darkness of autocracy and brought them to the light of freedom," reads the message.

"With the sacrifice of the martyrs, the country had embarked on the journey of republic along with democracy and civil liberties, the people's movement of 2062/63 BS heralded the era of federal democratic republic by ending monarchy," the Speaker said in the mesaage.

"The country has achieved significant success in political movements and revolutions, but there is still a lot of work to be done to bring about positive changes in the lives of the people", Speaker Ghimire noted in the message. 

House of Representatives (HoR) Speaker Devraj Ghimire has expressed his hope that the fifth session (winter session) of the Federal Parliament that commenced today will be productive in terms of enacting laws and addressing the issues of public concerns.

 Welcoming the HoR members to the meeting, the Speaker said that the Parliament carries a significant value in democracy, and disputes, discussions, and dialogues are expected in the Parliament. "But our conclusions should be for finding an agreement. Political parties representing here with people's mandate should not confine themselves to a narrow space but should explore a wider course for the national interests."

The respectful exchanges of logic and opinions by ruling and opposition parties would help make the parliamentary function effective, he said, adding that mutual respect, cooperation, and unity will help find a historic success for formulating policies and laws by ending existing issues in the nation.

"I hope the session will inspire all of us to deliver in the interest of the nation and citizens by going on with good practices of the past," he said.

Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) President and suspended parliamentarian, Rabi Lamichhane, held a meeting with Speaker Devraj Ghimire, over the issue of his suspension.

During the meeting held at the office of the Speaker at Singha Durbar, today, President Lamichhane submitted a petition requesting Speaker Ghimire to lift his suspension from the post of a member of the Parliament.

Deputy Speaker Indira Rana Magar, acting RSP Chair Dol Prasad Aryal, Vice-Chairperson Dr Swarnim Wagle, Chief Whip Santosh Pariyar, among others were also present along with Lamichhane in the meeting.

The Federal Parliament Secretariat had suspended the member of House of Representatives, Lamichhane, from the post on December 23.

Speaker of the House of Representatives (HoR), Devraj Ghimire, has discussed with the major ruling party Nepali Congress and CPN-UML about the bill passed by the National Assembly and sent to the House of Representatives.

Today, Speaker Ghimire invited Congress chief whip Shyam Ghimire and UML chief whip Mahesh Kumar Bartaula to his office at Singh Durbar and asked for their views on the Constitutional Council Bill and the Order of Precedence Bill that is pending in the House of Representatives.

"The Speaker has asked for opinions on the constitutional council bill passed by the National Assembly and other bills stuck in the lower house, including the bill on the order of precedence, after discussing it in the party. Today's discussion has been concluded with the agreement to meet with the Speaker again on Monday," said Congress Chief Whip Shyam Ghimire.

UML chief whip Mahesh Bartaula said that all the bills under consideration in the Parliament will be moved forward in the winter session of the Parliament. The winter session of Parliament has been called for January 31.

Chief Whip Bartaula informed that Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli will address the Parliament on the first day of the winter session.

Speaker Ghimire has increased his activities as the date of the winter session of Parliament approaches.

Speaker Ghimire is having a discussion with the chief whip of the major opposition party CPN (Maoist Center) and Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) today itself. 

Speaker Devraj Ghimire has said that Nepal has been adhering to the 'one China' principle with strong commitment.

The Speaker said this while addressing a program organized by the Embassy of the People's Republic of China on Thursday evening, on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between Nepal and China and the Chinese New Year 2025.

On the occasion, he said that China has been a reliable and important development partner of Nepal for a long time.

"Nepal and China have age-old, close, friendly and cooperative relations. Our relationship is cordial, harmonious and multifaceted, built on a strong foundation of mutual trust. Geographical and cultural commonalities as well as people-to-people ties have further strengthened our bilateral relations," the Speaker said.

He said such programs would contribute a lot in further strengthening the existing economic, social and cultural ties between the two countries.

Stating that this year is the Year of Snake as per Chinese tradition, he expressed the belief that this New Year would bring more happiness, progress and prosperity to the Chinese friends.

On the occasion, Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Chen Song said that China has made excellent progress in the last year facing various challenging situations.

Ambassador Chen said that under the central leadership of the Communist Party of China, especially under the guidance of Chairman Xi Jinping, China has ensured its economic development in the midst of a complex international situation.

He said that during the visit of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to China, the Cooperation Framework Agreement was forwarded to jointly promote the Belt and Road Initiative to take ahead the China-Nepal Strategic Cooperative Partnership.

The Chinese Ambassador said that this has taken the strategic partnership of long-term friendship between Nepal and China towards development and prosperity to a new height.

"The development of a three-dimensional connectivity network between the two countries is gaining momentum, 14 traditional border trade points have been fully operational and 48 direct flights are operating in a week," he said and expressed pleasure to see friends of the two countries visiting each other for tourism, more Chinese entrepreneurs coming to Nepal to invest and do business in Nepal and export of more and more Nepali goods to China.

House of Representatives (HoR) Speaker Devraj Ghimire, who is on a five-day visit to Cambodia, had a courtesy meeting with Prime Minister Samdech Hun Manet and Chairman of Senate, the Upper House of Cambodian Parliament, Samdech Hun Sen.

The Speaker's Secretariat said that during the meeting with Prime Minister Manet at the Peace Palace in Cambodia, important issues were discussed to take the historical relationship between the two countries to a new height.

In the meeting, Speaker Ghimire emphasized that direct air services should be started from Buddha's birthplace Lumbini and Cambodia's Angkor to promote Hindu and Buddhist heritage.

The Speaker believes that this will further encourage spiritual tourism and cultural exchange. An air agreement was signed between Nepal and Cambodia in 2075 BS.

During the meeting, there was a discussion about promoting experience exchange programs between citizens of both countries. Speaker Ghimire also gave a formal invitation to the Prime Minister of Cambodia to visit Nepal.

Prime Minister Manet said that the inter-parliamentary assembly of the International Parliament for Tolerance and Peace (IPTP) is an excellent platform for the cooperation of small nations. He expressed his desire to arrange a suitable time to visit Nepal. The meeting is seen as an important opportunity to further strengthen the economic, cultural and diplomatic cooperation between the two countries.

Speaker Ghimire held a meeting with Sen, the Chairman of the Upper House Senate on Sunday evening.

During the meeting held at the Cambodia People's Party headquarters, both parties discussed the issue of further strengthening the relationship between the legislatures of the two countries.

Similarly, the Secretariat of the Speaker Ghimire said that the possibility of further strengthening the long-term relations between the two countries, parliamentary practice, regional cooperation and cooperation on matters of common interest were also discussed.

The Speaker, while sharing the experience of the unique success of the Nepali peace process, was of the view that both countries can have more understanding and partnership in areas of common interest.

On Saturday evening, he also met with the President of the National Assembly of Cambodia.

The Speaker, who reached Cambodia's capital Phnom Penh leading a five-member delegation, addressed the 11th plenary session of the International Parliament for Tolerance and Peace on Sunday will return home on Tuesday.

Speaker Devraj Ghimire called on President Ram Chandra Paudel at the Rashtrapati Bhawan, Sheetal Niwas today.

In the meeting, Speaker Ghimire briefed the President about his visit to Cambodia, the Secretariat of the President said.

Speaker Ghimire is going to Cambodia today in connection with attending the 11th Plenary Session of the International Parliament for Tolerance and Peace (IPTP) to be held in Cambodia's capital Phnom Penh from November 23 to 26.

Speaker Devraj Ghimire has directed the parliamentary committees to table the bills which are under their consideration in the coming session of the Federal Parliament.

Speaker Ghimire issued such directives in the meeting with Committee presidents and chief whips and whips of the major political parties held at his office in Singha Durbar today.

On the occasion, the Speaker inquired about the number of bills under the consideration of the parliamentary committees and time required to pass them, said President of Industry, Commerce, Labour and Consumer Welfare Committee, Abdul Khan.

In the meeting, the parliamentary committee presidents informed Speaker Ghimire that the committee meetings were not held in lack of a quorum as most of the lawmakers are in their hometown with the end of Parliament session, he shared. 

Speaker Ghimire had called presidents of those committees, where bills are under consideration for clause-wise discussion, and chief whips and whips of major political parties, in the meeting and held discussions on related matters.

Chief Whip of CPN-UML Mahesh Bartaula, Chief Whip of Nepali Congress Shyam Kumar Ghimire, Chief Whip of CPN (Maoist Centre) Hitraj Pandey, Chief whip of Rastriya Swatantra Party Santosh Pariyar, and Chief Whip of Rastriya Prajatantra Party Gyan Bahadur Shahi were called in the meeting. 

UML's Chief Whip Bartaula shared that Speaker Ghimire asked them to call the meeting of parliamentary committees.

Norwegian Ambassador to Nepal Torun Dramdal paid a courtesy call on Speaker Devraj Ghimire.

During the meeting held at the office of Speaker in Singha Durbar on Monday, they discussed various issues including relations between the two countries and development cooperation.

On the occasion, Speaker Ghimire shared that high-level political leadership and diplomatic-level visits have been exchanged while there is remarkable collaboration at the people-level relations, investment, trade and tourism sectors since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 1973.

"Nepal has given high-priority to the relation with Norway as its development partner", he mentioned, adding the activities carried out by Norwegian government in the sector of renewable energy, education and good governance are useful for Nepal.

The Speaker explained that the campaign of sustainable development, peace and stability has now been launched in Nepal after a long political transitional period.

Similarly, Norwegian Ambassador Dramdal said though diplomatic relations were established between the two countries in 1973, there were friendly relations between Nepal and Norway since 1950.

She underlined that Norway had provided around 35 million US dollar worth of support in different sectors of Nepal.

Recalling that high-level visits are being held from time to time between the two countries, the Ambassador mentioned that a parliamentary committee related to Foreign Affairs and Defence of Norway is scheduled to visit Nepal in coming September. 

Speaker Ghimire shared that Nepal-Norway Parliamentary Friendship Group has been formed in Parliament of Nepal and expressed the belief that Nepal's visit of parliamentary committee related to Foreign Affairs and Defence of Norway would take parliamentary exchange to a new height.

The main opposition Nepali Congress has expressed dissatisfaction over the role of Speaker Devraj Ghimire, accusing him of being biased.

Determining that the role of Speaker Ghimire in today's meeting of the House of Representatives was not compatible with his position, a meeting of the NC Parliamentary Party held today raised questions over it.

The party questioned the role of the Speaker, saying the Speaker forwarded the agenda of the Parliament meeting amidst the protest and sloganeering of the opposition party. "A situation where a person in the position of the Speaker of the Parliament is used as a party member undermines the parliamentary norms and values. So, this meeting draws the serious attention of the Speaker to carry out activities in order to protect the parliamentary norms and values' ', reads the decision.

The NC Parliamentary Party meeting blamed the Speaker for forwarding the proposal related to a vote of confidence of the Prime Minister amidst protests and sloganeering of the opposition party and not allowing NC lawmakers to put forth their views. 

At a news conference organized to inform about the meeting of the NC Parliamentary Party, Chief Whip Ramesh Lekhak said the Speaker should not behave like a party cadre.  The meeting drew the conclusion that the Parliament meeting should not be run by ignoring the democratic and parliamentary norms and values.

Chief Whip Lekhak mentioned that instead of forming a parliamentary probe committee as per the demand of the opposition parties, it was not appropriate to complete the process of taking a vote of confidence even after having enough time for the same.

All opposition parties in the Parliament including the NC have been demanding formation of a parliamentary probe committee to ensure free and impartial investigation on embezzlement of cooperative funds.

Speaker Devraj Ghimire has said that parliamentary diplomacy will be promoted effectively for world peace, harmony and to reduce the impact of climate change.

He said so while talking to reporters upon arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport after participating in the 148th General Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Geneva, Switzerland.

Speaker Ghimire said that Nepal has faced geographical and regional challenges.

He informed that there was a sideline discussion in the General Assembly regarding Nepal's participation in the non-aligned campaign and making its role effective.

A delegation led by Speaker Ghimire left for Geneva on March 21 to participate in the General Assembly held at the head office of the IPU from March 23 to 27.

In the General Assembly, Speaker Ghimire delivered a speech on behalf of the Federal Parliament on the topic of 'Parliamentary Diplomacy: Building Bridges for Peace and Understanding'.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Devraj Ghimire, has underscored the need of all political parties to move ahead with consensus for achieving prosperity.

Talking briefly to the media at Biratnagar Airport today, the Speaker of the lower house of the Federal Parliament said that the political parties needed to move ahead on the basis of consensus in plan formulation and implementation on the common topic of nation building.

He called on the political parties and all citizens to unite against the efforts being made to foment dislike towards the present political system.

"Information has been received that the government is preparing to introduce 61 bills in the current session of the parliament. Therefore, the Parliament will not have any shortage of business," the Speaker said and expressed the belief that the current session of parliament would be fruitful.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Devraj Ghimire, has said that the effectiveness of the Parliament to a large extent relies on the competency and activeness of the employees.

In a message today on the occasion of the Federal Parliament Service Day, 2080, Speaker Ghimire said that it is the responsibility of the Federal Parliament Secretariat to ensure the necessary human resources, information, technology and physical materials to the Parliament.

The parliamentary service has been separated from the civil service for effective performance of the service and to develop the parliamentary capacity and strength, so as to increase the effectiveness of oversight of the government, which is an important function of the Parliament, he said.

Article 207 of the Constitution of Nepal provides for a secretariat to operate and manage the work of the Federal Parliament and that the establishment of such a secretariat and other related provisions shall be in accordance with the federal law. The Parliament Service is a special, autonomous and professional service, which is run by a separate Act.

On this occasion, Speaker Ghimire also extended his best wishes to the staffers of the Federal Parliament Secretariat.

The Federal Parliament Service Day is observed every year on 28th of Mangsir in the Lunar calendar in commemoration of the formation of the Autonomous Parliament Service in the year 2058 BS.

Speaker Devraj Ghimire has urged the government to promptly make necessary arrangements for bringing back bodies of the Nepali people killed in the Hamas-launched terrorist attack in Israel.

In a condolence message today, he also called for the government to make arrangements for repatriating interested Nepali people staying in Israel.

He expressed deep sorrow over the loss of the lives of 10 Nepali people in the lethal terrorist attack in Southern Israel.

"I urge the government to relocate all Nepali people facing risks of potential attacks to safer places, arrange repatriation of those interested and bring back bodies of those killed in the incident to home", the message reads.

Extending wishes for the recovery of the wounded Nepali people undergoing treatment in local hospitals, he drew the government's attention towards mobilizing all mechanisms for the search of the missing Nepali people in Israel.

Russian Ambassador to Nepal Aleksei Novikov today paid a courtesy call on Speaker of the House of Representatives Devraj Ghimire. 

During the meeting held at the Singha Durbar, the two exchanged views on matters relating to Nepal-Russia relations and on the parliamentary practices in both countries.

Stating the Russian Federation is the old friend of Nepal, the Speaker said both countries enjoyed a cordial relation since they established the diplomatic ties in 1956.

He expressed gratitude for Russia's significant contributions to Nepal's development, including support provided during the 2015 earthquake and the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Russian ambassador also highlighted the importance of parliamentary exchanges between the two nations.

The Russian envoy said the Russia visit by National Assembly Chairperson Ganesh Prasad Timilsina in April was significant in this regard.

According to him, a high-level delegation from Russia is preparing to visit Nepal in the course of the implementation of bilateral agreements reached during the NA Chair's visit.