KATHMANDU: Lawmakers speaking in today’s meeting of the House of Representatives emphasized the need for Nepal to remain alert to the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan and their potential implications for Nepal.
During zero hour, several lawmakers called on the government to demonstrate diplomatic prudence in the face of growing conflict between the neighboring countries.
Nepali Congress leader Narayan Prakash Saud suggested that the planned visit of high-level Pakistani military officials to Nepal should be postponed, citing the sensitive nature of the current India-Pakistan situation.
Similarly, Dr. Amresh Kumar Singh criticized the government for failing to reach out to the family of Sudip Neupane, a Nepali national who lost his life in a recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.
Dol Prasad Aryal urged the government to address the concerns of Nepalis living in India. He highlighted issues such as the difficulty faced by children born to Nepali parents in India in acquiring citizenship and challenges related to investing in Nepal’s industries.
Sanjay Kumar Gautam called for the government to assess both the short- and long-term implications of a potential war between India and Pakistan, given Nepal’s geopolitical vulnerability and open border with India. He also stressed the importance of political unity during such critical times, advocating for consensus among parties on constitutional amendments, strengthening federalism, and preserving national culture.
Beyond regional tensions, lawmakers also raised domestic concerns such as the slow progress in road and bridge construction, lack of drinking water, and inefficiencies in electricity supply.
MP Achyut Prasad Mainali said the government’s newly introduced policies and programmes reflect a strong commitment to reform. He encouraged opposition lawmakers to provide constructive feedback based on facts. Mainali also emphasized the need for a unified national vision for the institutionalization of federal democracy and the country’s economic progress.
Rupa Soshi Chaudhary called on the government to proactively tackle corruption and irregularities. She advocated for prioritizing public-private partnership (PPP) models over full-scale privatization, aligning with the country’s goal of building a socialism-oriented economy.
Chanda Karki Bhandari urged the government to immediately appoint a new Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank, highlighting the urgency of stabilizing the country’s financial system amid growing economic challenges. She also expressed concern over the lack of good governance and low morale in the productive and service sectors.
Bikram Pandey stressed the need to strengthen disaster preparedness and improve the logistics of emergency relief distribution and rescue operations.
Sher Bahadur Kunwar underscored the urgency of promoting good governance and accelerating development projects. He specifically urged the government to expedite the completion of the Butwal-Narayangadh road section, citing the ongoing inconvenience to the public.
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