KATHMANDU: Parliamentarians have urged the government to prioritize action over rhetoric and focus on national development rather than merely forming a government.
During the special hour of the House of Representatives today, Dr. Chandrakant Bhandari of the Nepali Congress (NC) emphasized that development should reflect the people’s aspirations for prosperity and convenience, alongside economic principles.
He expressed frustration over stagnation in development projects due to a lack of understanding of economic rules and called for a shift in focus from government formation to national development.
Dr. Bhandari stressed the importance of addressing brain drain among Nepali youth and highlighted the public’s suffering due to delays in infrastructure projects, such as road construction.
He also called for accountability in tax collection, questioning whether taxes from the telecommunications service provider Ncell had been collected, and demanded the House Speaker address the Ncell capital gains tax issue.
On a different note, Dr. Bhandari praised Nepali women for their resilience in celebrating the Teej festival despite poverty and deprivation and noted public anticipation for the return of renowned singer Bishnu Majhi.
CPN (UML) representative Ishwor Bahadur Rijal called for the House to uphold values of equality, freedom, and fairness.
He stressed the need to evaluate whether Nepal’s democracy is serving the public and whether proportional development is occurring. Rijal condemned the practice of using politics for personal or partisan gain, which he claimed has led to disorder in the country.
CPN (Maoist Centre) member Amanlal Modi urged that the peace process in Nepal must not be compromised, emphasizing that his party’s movements and revolutions were for the benefit of Madheshi, Dalit, women, and indigenous communities.
He asserted that the people’s war was fought for democracy and equality.
Rastriya Swatantra Party’s Sobita Gautam highlighted the severe challenges faced by expecting mothers in Nepal due to substandard imported medicines.
Rastriya Prajatantra Party’s Rajendra Lingden lamented the government’s lack of attention to rising inflation and questioned traders’ reluctance to pay taxes.
CPN (Unified Socialist) member Sher Bahadur Kunwar called for measures to curb black marketeering and control inflation.
Janamat Party’s Abdul Khan emphasized the need for skill-based training for the Awadhi-speaking community to improve their health, education, and economic conditions.
Loktantrik Samajwadi Party Nepal’s Ram Prakash Chaudhary advocated for the development of the sports sector to help athletes earn a living through sports.
Nepal Workers and Peasants Party’s Prem Suwal suggested that the Nepali Foreign Minister should have addressed the issues faced by Nepalis in border areas and concerns related to Nepali territory during her recent visit to India.
Comment