Kathmandu: The Parliament’s discussion on the government’s policy and programme continued today at the House of Representatives giving emphasis on a broad-based national consensus for an effective outlet to the current crisis faced by nation.
MPs of both the treasury and opposition benches acceded that country at present was in critical juncture and they differed on the government’s document on several points.
The ruling party MPs defended that the policy programme has addressed key national issues and said that the need of the time was to effectively implement the programme.
They opined that the document has given top priority in maintaining law and order which, they said, was also the prime concern of all the political parties in the country.
However, the opposition MPs, who were aggressive on the government’ policy and programme, viewed that it desperately lacked a clear vision and concrete programme to ensure peace and security and revamp beleaguered economy of the country.
They urged the government to incorporate the constructive suggestions of the oppositions into its document.
Taking part in the discussion, CPN-UML MP Bharat Mohan Adhikari said that the programme and policy has kept mum on major economic issues.
He said that country’s industrial, agriculture, tourism and banking sector are on the verge of collapse due to wrong economic policy of the past. “But the document does not go to review and correct the past mistakes.”
Adhikari said that government became failure in poverty alleviation programme, as it did not involve the local people in the development activities. He also heavily came down on the government for the recently enforced Public Security Regulation 2058 B.S. saying it has snatched the Constitutional rights of the people.
Speaking at the meeting, Nepali Congress MP Chirinjibi Wagle opined that significance of the discussion could be only justified when the government honestly implements its policy and programme that contained many positive aspects.
Wagle, however, was critical of the government on security matter. “Although the document has expressed a lot about maintaining law and order, it seems it lacked clear-cut security policy,” said Wagle, who represents the treasury bench.
Wagle pointed out the need to define the role of the police and army and to bring the Maoists to the mainstream national politics.
Ramchandra Ray, MP from the Rastriya Prajatantra Party criticised the government for failing to solve the problem of citizenship certificate.
Likewise, Mrigendra Yadav, MP of the Nepal Sadbhawan Party said that the document lacked the commitment to curb rampant corruption and bring the deteriorating condition of peace and security in the track.
In the similar tune, another opposition MP Pari Thapa from the Rastiriya Janmorcha blamed that the Prime Minister has forwarded the agenda of national consensus only to save himself from the oppositions’ demand of his resignation.
However, Thapa said a broad-based national consensus is the need of the time to strengthen democracy and nationality.
He also said that the document was silent on the unequal treaties, language and culture of ethnic communities.
CPN-UML MP Pradeep Nepal said that it is not wise to divide into ‘yes’ and ‘no’ while commenting on the programme and policy.
He said a fresh start is what is needed necessary to strengthen the parliament.
Meanwhile, he spent majority of his time coming down upon the Radio Nepal’s current affair programme ‘Ghatana ra Bichar Karyakram’.
However, NC MP Ramchandar Tiwari lambasted the main opposition party for holding double standards. “Their views are full of contradictions.”
Stating that the document is only a continuation of the past programmes and a framework of the forthcoming budget, he urged oppositions to be serious to the gravity of the situation.
He pleaded that the Prime Minister is not responsible to incident on what happened at the Narayanhiti Royal Palace since the affairs of the Royal Palace comes under separate Act.
Defending the Public Security Regulation 2058, Tiwari said it has been introduced according to the Constitution of the country.
Renu Yadav of the RPP said that the document lacked agriculture policy and commitment for its modernisation.
Likewise, Dilli Raj Khanal of the CPN-UML said that the government should revise its liberalization and privatization policy to protect sick industries. He protested the government policy saying it failed to analyze weaknesses of the Ninth Five-Year Plan that had sole aim of reducing the massive poverty in the country.
He requested that the discussion of the government’s programme and policy to make a result-oriented one, not a mere formality.
Ram Kumar Chaudhari and Sabitri Bogati, both from the Nepali Congress, said that the document has encompassed the major issues and urged oppositions not to oppose only for the sake of opposing it.