WINTER SESSION BEGINS
Speaker asks parties to be accountable

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Feb. 8: The 19th session of the Parliament summoned by His Majesty the King, began at the Parliament Building, in Singha Durbar this afternoon.

Addressing the opening of the winter session of the Parliament, Speaker of the House of Representatives Taranath Ranabhat expressed belief that the deliberations and mutual understanding among political parties would help consolidate democracy and accelerate the process of national development. Having examined the outcome of the past 18 sessions after the restoration of democracy in 1990, Speaker Ranabhat noted that this session would be more productive and result-oriented and urged all the lawmakers to be united for the national interest.

Conflict of ideologies in democratic system is a normal phenomenon, but intra-party conflict and anomalies seem to have generated disinterest towards democracy among the people, Speaker Ranabhat added.

He further said that mutual understanding among the ruling and opposition parties were essential to seek solutions in a democratic society. It is high time that the parliament be serious for the national interest.

Referring to the recent event that took place near Surkhet in which the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court was attacked by Maoist insurgents, Speaker Ranabhat pointed out the need for unity among the democratic forces to fight undemocratic elements which are trying to debilitate rule of law in the country. He also appealed the Maoists to abandon the act of violence and come within the arena of Constitution.

Speaker Ranabhat further said that people’s expectations could be met only through concerted efforts of political parties. "The ongoing 19th session of the Parliament would help find solutions to all queries," he said pointing out the need for ruling and opposition parties to be more accountable and responsible.

"Speech and consolations alone cannot overcome the people’s disenchantment towards parliamentary system, political parties should win the confidence of people and rise above the party interests," he added. It would be our success if we could guarantee the people’s right thereby accelerating the process of national development.

Speaking at the session, leader of the main opposition party — the Communist Party of Nepal — Unified Marxist-Leninist Madhav Kumar Nepal accused the government of undermining the national interest and demanded the resignation of the Prime Minister.

"The pace of national development is sliding down owing to the activities of the government," Nepal charged and said that corruption, politicisation and irregularities have weakened democracy and tarnished the image of the country.

Nepal further charged the government of triggering corruption and debilitating the state mechanism.

He said that undemocratic, irresponsible and unaccountable acts of the government have dragged the nation towards uncertainty. Pointing out the issues like Lauda Air deal, provision of Regional Commissioner and Armed Police Force through Ordinance, Nepal accused the government of jeopardising democratic norms and values. "Security system has collapsed, judiciary systems are not functioning properly and the administrative mechanism has weakened. That is why, Premier Koirala should step down as soon as possible."

Surya Bahadur Thapa, leader of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party charged the government of undermining the norms and values of democracy and demanded the resignation of the Prime Minister. He said that people have lost faith towards democratic institutions because of undemocratic acts of the government, hence it is very essential to consider the future of the nation.

Badri Prasad Mandal, leader of the Nepal Sadbhavana Party (NSP) urged all political parties to find solutions for strengthening democracy. He further said that the mere change in the leadership couldn’t be the solution.

Chitra Bahadur K.C., leader of the Rastriya Jana Morcha (National People’s Front), expressed concern over the deteriorating situation of the nation and asked for the resignation of the Prime Minister.

Speaking in a similar vein, leader of the United People’s Front Lila Mani Pokhrel and the leader of the Nepal Workers and Peasants Party (NWPP) Narayan Man Bijukchhe pointed out the need to rectify the worsening situation in the country and demanded the PM’s resignation.

The next meeting of the House of Representatives is to take place on February 12.

House panel constituted

Kathmandu, Feb 8 (RSS): A meeting today of the House of Representatives Business Advisory Committee discussed the programme of the Lower House and also constituted a sub-committee to select call attention motions, motions of urgent public importance and strictures.

The sub-committee has Rajendra Prasad Pandey as convenor with Krishna Charan Shrestha, Tek Bahadur Chokhyal, Badri Prasad Mandal and Hom Nath Dahal as members.

The meeting held at the Parliament Building, Singha Durbar was chaired by committee chairman Speaker Taranath Ranabhat.

Bhattarai not happy with size of cabinet

Kathmandu, Feb. 8 (RSS):  Former prime minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, in a press statement published here today, said that the resolution of current problems will never be possible through the formation of a jumbo-sized cabinet.

Mr Bhattarai said the NC president did not show him the list of cabinet members and he himself had not proposed any names.

Mr Bhattarai noted that the prime minister is being gradually swamped by problems including deteriorating law and order and the Lauda Air scam, adding that it is very difficult for him to escape from all this.

Mr Bhattarai said due to lack of time and the gravity of the problems, it is hard to run a party like the Nepali Congress which is so vast and old. Furthermore, as the party president has shouldered the responsibility of Prime Minister also without seeking the advice of friends, he will not be able to do justice to both his responsibilities and has not been able to give them his time.

The hundreds of thousands of Nepalese people who are NC members and well wishers are deeply worried for this reason on the one hand and the pace of development of the country is very slow on the other, he said adding that all donors, well wishers and international financial institutions have publicly expressed concern about this.

The former prime minister also said that he objected to what was published about one of the cabinet members in some newspapers describing him as ‘my close associate’ and citing his (Mr Bhattarai’s) name.

UML, RPP party meetings focus contemporary issues

Kathmandu, Feb. 8 (RSS):  The CPN-UML parliamentary party that met here today at the party’s office at Singha Durbar under the chairmanship of parliamentary party leader and party general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal held serious discussions on contemporary issues.

The meeting concluded that in view of the Lauda Air scam the Prime Minister should resign to clear the way for smooth business and spoke of the need to play an effective role in the parliamentary session, it is stated in a press statement published by the CPN-UML parliamentary party.

Similarly, a meeting of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) held at the RPP parliamentary party office, Singha Durbar today, decided to raise an effective voice at the 19th parliamentary session for the resolution of the burning issues before the country, while remaining well within the parameters of the constitution.

The party also decided to seek the resignation of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala on moral grounds since the meeting felt that the country was at present in a very pitiable condition owing to the "immoral" administration and working style of the present government and as the council of ministers seems to have been involved in the lease of the Lauda Air aircraft, a press release issued by the party states.

The meeting was chaired by RPP parliamentary party leader and party president Surya Bahadur Thapa.

Oppn leaders demand PM’s resignation

Kathmandu, Feb. 8 (RSS):  Opposition lawmakers entered the venue of the 19th session of Parliament today shouting slogans calling for the Prime Minister’s resignation.

A joint procession comprising of Upper and Lower House lawmakers of all the opposition parties apart from the Nepal Sadbhavana Party and the CPN-ML, namely the CPN-UML, RPP, the National People’s Front and the Nepal Workers and Peasants Party (NWPP) marched from the cordoned off area at Bhadrakali to the Parliament building Singha Durbar shouting various slogans and demanding that the Prime Minister resign.

Sit-in staged to protest Citizenship Bill

Lalitpur, Feb. 8 (RSS):  A rally taken out to protest the Citizenship Bill passed by the 18th session of Parliament staged a sit-in at Bhadrakali calling for scraping of the bill after it is discussed by the 19 parliamentary session which commenced from today.

The rally, participated in by people dressed in black and carrying various placards and banners, was taken out from Ratnapark and passed through Ason, Indrachowk, New Road, Sahid Gate and Bhadrakali.

The participants of the rally chanted slogans calling for scrapping of the Citizenship Bill, providing citizenship to all, regulation of the Nepal-India border and removal of Indian forces from Nepalese territory.

On the occasion, various speakers warned that the provisions in the Citizenship Bill which provide for issuing citizenship on the basis of birth as against the provision of providing citizenship on the basis of descent as provided by the constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal-1990 would make it easy for thousands of non-Nepalese to acquire citizenship, thereby pushing the country towards a grave crisis in the future.

At the protest meet organised by the citizenship misuse resistance committee, former prime minister Kirti Nidhi Bista and committee members Prabhu Narayan Chaudhari, Dr Mina Acharya, advocate Bishwakant Mainali, Hiranya Lal Shrestha, Sitaram Tamang, Chetendra Jung Himali, Rajeshwar Devkota, Shyam Shrestha and others pointed out the need to scrap the bill in the current session of Parliament as the bill was against national interests.

Law and order bill urgent: PM

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Feb. 8: Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has said that the 19th session of the Parliament would be very significant since the session is expected to finalise some of the much-awaited bills considered essential for the ‘institutional development’ in the country.

"At a time when people have started showing their disinterest towards parliament and the lawmakers, we need to be very serious regarding how we can reinstate the glory of the House thereby leading the country towards right direction," Prime Minister Koirala said while addressing the 19th session of the parliament that began in the Parliament Building this afternoon.

He further said that the Bills regarding law and order situation, corruption control and good governance would be presented during the session. "They are very urgent now to address the country marred by evils like the so-called Maoist insurgency movement, corruption cases and inefficiency in bureaucracy."

Citing efforts of introducing armed police force through ordinance, provision of regional commissions and strengthening of the Commission for the Investigation of the Abuse of Authority he said that he was doing every bit to maintain law and order situation, control corruption and establish good governance in the country.

He said that he was seeking support from all the opposition parties in this regard. "If we do not go unitedly our efforts of developing the country and institutionalising democracy would fail and the anti-democratic elements would benefit from our weakness," he added.

Talking about country’s law and order situation Premier Koirala said that the existing traditional system in the police force was unable to tackle the Maoist problem and thus the provision of armed police force was introduced.

Solve problems democratically

Kathmandu, Feb. 8 (RSS): Minister for Defence Mahesh Acharya has said that the present government was seeking ways for resolving the problems of poverty, want and distress in the country through parliamentary democracy and the system of popular representation.

Addressing a seminar jointly organised by the Free Students’ Unions of Valmiki Campus and Patan Multiple Campus here today, Defence Minister Acharya pointed out that national politics at present faced many difficult situations and the government was committed to resolving these problems through democratic exercises.

He urged the Nepal Students’ Union to forge mutual unity and move ahead to do away with the inconsistencies seen in the education sector.

Newly-elected president of Nepal Students’ Union (NSU) Bishwa Prakash Sharma said that cooperation would be enlisted from all students to bring about a complete change in the country’s education sector so that the slogan of "Education for all" will materialise.

Former NSU president Dhanraj Gurung and general secretary Umesh Jung Rayamajhi called on all NSU supporters to refrain from bringing the NSU’s recent Chitwan general convention into controversy but instead to bury the hatchet and prepare themselves for the upcoming free students’ union election.

NSU western region vice-president Prem Poudel and former member Guru Raj Ghimire also expressed their views at the programme presided over by Valmiki Campus Free Students’ Union president Badri Aryal.