Kathmandu, May 25: Omkar Prasad Shrestha of the Nepali Congress, speaking at the National Assembly on the policy and programme of His Majesty’s Government today, said since everything cannot be included in the document, only major things which the government will fulfill in one year’s time have been accommodated in it.

CPN-UML‘s Ram Chandra Bhattarai noted that the document lacks programmes likely to ensure the interests of the majority of people.

CPN-ML’s Dr. Ramman Shrestha suggested that the government should not earmark billions of rupees for the home administration in the name of controlling the maoist activity.

Gajendra Narayan Singh of the Nepal Sadbhawana Party termed the present document as the worst in the post-democracy era and said the working paper does not have any concrete programmes for maintaining peace and order and resolving the problem of citizenship.

Mr Singh also spoke of the need to change the structure of development region for proper development of the terai region.

MP Laghudhan Rai remarked that the working paper does not have enough strength to root out corruption and commission-mongering and is not likely to make more effective the commission for investigation of abuse of authority (CIAA).

Goma Devkota of the CPN-UML extended thanks to the Nepalese Women Mountaineers who scaled Mt. Sagarmatha and spoke of the need to clean up the Pashupati area, stop the Kamaiya system, ensure the women’s rights and interests and make clear the government’s views on open university.

NC’s Ratna Bahadur Biswokarma observed that the policy documents does not aim at ensuring the interests of the people of the lower strata and urged everyone to safeguard democracy.

CPN-UML’s Uttam Kumar Mahat said the working paper is silent on removing people’s disenchantment with democracy, attention should be given to career development of the journalists and the conservation of national parks, and smuggling of rare species of wildlife should be stopped.

Bisheshwora Dahal of the same party accused the government of not being serious about resolving the problems of Maoist insurgency, controlling corruption and improving quality of education.

NC’s Basudev Bhatta observed that the government’s working paper has embraced the feelings and aspirations of the Nepali people and is likely to solve the burning problems of the country, adding that the government will be able to contain corruption, stop commission-mongering and smuggling and uplift the quality of life of the downtrodden communities.

CPN-UML’s Bir Bahadur Singh complained that the paper is silent on bringing about a radical changes in agriculture sector and there is no programme for removing the indian army from kalapani.

NC’s Sukraraj Samyok observed that the working paper, though brief, is of high importance and spoke of the need to reach understanding for development.