Kathmandu, July 5

Lawmakers of various political parties on Tuesday criticised the government for failing to resolve problems facing the country.

Speaking during zero and special hours of today’s Parliament meeting, the lawmakers said the government was making hollow commitments and promises but not implementing them.

Nepali Congress lawmaker Nabindra Raj Joshi said the government had failed to win the trust of neighboring countries due to its defective foreign policy. “The government has neither been able to open the Tatopani trade route nor improve its relations with India,” he said, adding that the government’s foreign policy had failed.

Joshi said the government should give first priority to neighbors, then the countries where Nepalis are living and then the United Nations while implementing its foreign policy. He also criticised the government for opening embassies in various countries just to create ambassadorial positions for those close to the ruling parties.

“Since our embassies in various countries are not working effectively, the government should conduct a study and take initiatives to improve their performance,” he said.

Bikash Lamsal of CPN-UML urged the government to provide relief to the people affected by the earthquakes, floods and landslides.

Karna Bahadur BK of CPN-Maoist Centre urged the government to remain prepared to rescue people hit by natural disasters.

Ram Krishna Yadav of Nepali Congress and Yogendra Chaudhari of Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (Democratic) criticised the government for not creating environment for elections at all three levels by not addressing the concerns of the Madhes-based parties.

“The Tarai agitation has been continuing for a long time. However, the government has turned a deaf ear to their concerns and has taken no concrete steps for talks,” Yadav said.

Meanwhile, NC’s lawmaker Ram Hari Khatiwada today adopted a new style to draw the government’s attention during zero hour. After Speaker Onsari Gharti Magar called his name during zero hour, he stood and said, “I want to spend my one minute time without speaking anything.

It is because the government is turning a deaf ear to the concerns raised by the lawmakers during zero and special hours.” Then, he stood for some time without speaking.

NC lawmakers supported him by banging tables. He sat down after the Speaker asked him to take his seat.