Lawmakers air contrasting views; no-trust debate continues

KATHMANDU: As the Parliament continued discussion over the no-confidence motion filed against the government, lawmakers representing various parties have put forth contrasting views in line with own party agendas, on Sunday.

Speaking in the beginning of the meeting today, Nepali Congress leader Krishna Prasad Sitaula said the change in the government was very natural in the parliamentary democracy and no one should create any confusion over that.

He was of the view that the Prime Minister would automatically be relieved of his office once the no-confidence motion against him got endorsed at the House.

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Meanwhile, CPN Maoist Centre leader Rekha Sharma - who was the Minister for General Administration in Oli-led government before the Maoist party pulled out of the government - said the government did not head toward implementation of federalism.

Likewise, the government was not willing to conclude the peace process, she charged.

Federal Socialist Forum-Nepal Chairman Upendra Yadav accused the incumbent government of suppressing protests of Madhesis after promulgation of the Constitution.

The government even breached basic principles of international humanitarian laws and carried out a carnage against the Madhesi community, an angry Yadav added.

Ministers of the government instead spread illusions claiming successes in ending the border blockage and bringing the agitating Madhesi parties on board the Parliament, he added.

Jitendra Narayan Dev of the Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum-Democratic defended his party's pull-out from the government claiming the decision was made to promote national unity. The party had just pulled out of the government yesterday.

He said the government failed to implement various pacts signed with various protesting parties including the MJF-D, forcing the latter to leave the government.

Bikram Pandey of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party, which had pulled out of the government just Saturday, also echoed Dev and maintained that respect to majority was a basic characteristic of democracy.

Likewise, Ram Sharan Mahat of Nepali Congress said the government did not take any initiative to attract foreign support for the national development.

UML Vice-Chairman Yubaraj Gyawali, however, reiterated views of leaders of his parties that the CPN Maoist Centre's move to file the no-confidence motion against the government formed with its own proposal.

NC's Arjun Narsingha KC vented ire at the government for failure to manage shelter for the 2015 earthquake survivors. Likewise, Mahesh Acharya of the same party said the Prime Minister failed to take major political parties into confidence.

UML lawmakers including Krishna Bhakta Pokharel and Rajendra Prasad Pandey, however, had defended the government led by their party chief and criticised the CPN MC decision to register the no-confidence motion.

Nepali Congress senior leader Ram Chandra Paudel opined that the President should not be brought into controversy regarding her role in the government formation process. Likewise, he said the Constitution was clear enough about the new government.

Maoist leader Shakti Bahadur Basnet, who had served as the Home Minister of Oli government, said no party was required to support anyone forever just because the former had some agreement with the latter at a particular point of time.

Lawmakers of fringe parties had also spoken at the meeting.