Productive Session
EVEN the most die-hard cynics would agree
that the 21st session of parliament that was prorogued Wednesday was unlike most of the
previous ones in terms of productivity. Quite a few crucial bills were passed. The
much-anticipated bills relating to corruption and Commission for the Investigation of
Abuse of Authority were passed by the parliament towards the end of the session after many
deliberations. Those concerning women’s rights, trafficking in humans, political
parties and others were also important bills to see their passage through a parliament
where a notable across-the-party-lines consensus was evident. The solidarity among the
political parties to face the current national crisis was most prominent when it came to
turning the Terrorist and Destructive Activities Control ordinance into an Act.
Apparently, the kind of challenges the nation is facing in the face of Maoist violence had
bound the parties together in giving a go-ahead to this tool that is crucial in the fight
against the terrorism let loose on the Nepalese by the Maoists.
Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, in his
closing address to the parliament Wednesday, had special words of appreciation for
political parties and members of parliament who showed an ample measure of team spirit in
standing against terrorism. He emphasised that the foremost priority of the government was
to restore peace for which happily Nepal appear to be receiving more concrete support in
recent times from India as Indian authorities have begun searching for the Maoists who
have escaped to India after carrying out terrorist activities in Nepal. While the war
against terrorism must be continued, other important national issues have to be taken care
of. Together with some significant bills that the parliament passed, the government in
recent months also initiated other noteworthy steps. Formation of corruption probe body,
Women and Dalit commissions and Janajati Academy are some of the steps that seek to push
forward things on these fronts. The challenge for the government now is to implement these
measures, however difficult it may be given the current security situation. The people
must see that the passage of the bills or the governance and social steps that the
government has taken, are translated into action on the ground. This productive
session’s achievements—about which there is a remarkable chorus of agreement
among the political parties as was reflected in their leaders’ closing speeches
Wednesday—must turn into real gains for the Nepalese.
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