KATHMANDU, JANUARY 9

CPN-UML Chair KP Sharma Oli defended his move to dissolve the House of Representatives dismissing those who had condemned his move as 'regressive step.'

Addressing the House of Representatives on the first day of the new session of the Parliament, Oli said if dissolution of the HoR was termed a regressive step, then one must conclude that there were many examples of regressive steps in UK, where HoR is often dissolved.

'Dissolution of House is not a regression, but snatching of people's right is. Dissolution or formation of a government by the Parliament is not regression but conspiring to form government with non-parliamentary methods is regression,' Oli said in an oblique reference to the formation of the Deuba government through a Supreme Court directive on 12 July 2021. UML had termed the Deuba government a parmadesi sarkar (the government formed through a court order).

Nepali Congress General Secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa took potshot at Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, saying that Dahal, who had been reacting positively to Oli's remarks, was confused as to how he should react to this remark.

When Dahal was in the five-party alliance led by the NC, all the partners of the alliance had termed Oli's move to dissolve the HoR a regressive step.

Talking to mediapersons after the House meeting, he said, Oli's remarks would sow the seed of rift between Oli and Dahal. He also questioned the stability of the current coalition government. Another senior NC leader, Bimalendra Nidhi, told mediapersons that he wished to see the HoR complete the full five-year term, but that looked unlikely with a fragile coalition at the helm.

Oli, however, saw the new coalition differently. He said the rise of new parties, three of which are part of the new coalition, reflected people's desire for change. 'The government is formed to improve people's lives and achieve goals of development and prosperity,' he added. Oli said there was a need for making united efforts to build the country. 'We have many challenges before us. We have the challenge of controlling corruption and maintaining good governance,' he added.

Delivering a written statement from the rostrum of the HoR, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal said lawmakers were sitting in the temple of democracy for which hundreds of people sacrificed their lives and he would endeavour to fulfil their dream. Stating that various costumes worn by lawmakers during the swearing-in ceremony reflected Nepal's diversity, he said unity was the country's strength. Not respecting diversity will be artificial unity, he argued. He said national unity should be strengthened by ending discrimination and marginalisation. Terming the entry of new political forces into the House as a victory for democracy and sovereignty, the PM said they were passionate about achieving the desired results.

Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba said achieving the goals of long-lasting peace, good governance, development, and prosperity through federal, democratic, and republican order should be everybody's common goal. Stating that the implementation of the constitution should be the government's top priority, Deuba said multiple policies and laws should be enacted to implement the constitution. He said the NC would unitedly and constructively play the role of opposition in the HoR without deviating from its political goals.

Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane who is the Chair of Rastriya Swatantra Party, one of the three new parties that rose after the November 20 polls, said the government would open all the files of corruption committed in the past.

Rastriya Prajatantra Party Chair Rajendra Lingden said the mandate of the election was that no one should negate other parties or ideologies. He said the resolution of problems facing the country could be found only through collaboration between all parties and ideologies.

Janmat Party Chair CK Raut said his party would augment the efforts to protect and promote democratic, federal, and republican order.

Chair of Nagarik Unmukti Party Ranjita Shrestha claimed that Resham Chaudhary and other Tharu leaders, who were convicted in the Kailali carnage and had been languishing in jail for the past five years, were victims of injustice. She said had Resham Chaudhary been associated with the NC, the UML or the CPN-MC, he would not have been framed in the case.

Parliamentary Party Leader of Janata Samajbadi Party Nepal Ram Sahay Yadav said the RSS government should give top priority to implement federalism in a manner that could strengthen provincial governments.

Loktantrik Samajbadi Party-Nepal leader Sharat Singh Bhandari said people were frustrated because the government, which had signed pacts with political forces, did not implement those agreements.

Rastriya Janamorcha leader Chitra Bahadur KC said it was unethical of CPN-MC Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal to leave the NC-led alliance suddenly and join hands with the UML. Independent lawmaker Prabhu Sah said there was need for converting the Dahal-led government into a national government by inducting all parties into the government.