Kathmandu, May 18

Lawmakers today extended their congratulations on the formation of the Nepal Communist Party, following the unification of the CPN-UML and the CPN-Maoist Centre.

Speaking at the meeting of the House of Representatives, lawmakers representing the Nepali Congress, the newly-formed NCP, and Madhes-based parties, wished the NCP success in its endeavours to achieve development and prosperity.

NCP lawmaker Khagaraj Adhikari termed the left unification ‘a tribute’ to late Madan Bhandari and Jivaraj Ashrit. Stating that the historic merger was not against anybody, he said it was for strengthening democracy and fulfilling the people’s aspirations for development.

Welcoming the unification between the CPN-UML and the CPN-MC, Nepali Congress lawmaker Devendra Raj Kandel said the government should make efforts to curb incidents of rape and violence against women.

NC lawmaker Uma Regmi also drew the government’s attention towards increasing incidents of violence against women. Demanding that the provision of capital punishment be put in place for such crimes, she complained: “It is very sad that political parties are protecting the criminals.”

NCP lawmaker Yashoda Gurung Subedi demanded that the government allocate enough resources to blacktop roads in remote Manang district, which she said did not still have better road access. She also raised the government’s attention towards the need for offering proper education services in the district.

NCP lawmaker Chhabilal Bishwakarma welcomed the left unification and said it took place to realise people’s aspiration for stability. He also demanded that uniform provisions related to the facilities of local body chiefs and deputy chiefs be adopted.

Independent lawmaker Hridayesh Tripathi also extended his best wishes to the newly-formed Nepal Communist Party. He demanded that the government distribute compensation to the victims of various incidents of violence in Tarai-Madhes in the past, and sought information about the reports of various investigation committees formed to probe such incidents.

NCP lawmaker Kamala Roka demanded that the government ensure facilities such as education and health to newly-formed district of Rukum-east.

Wishing the newly-formed NCP all the luck, NC lawmaker Sanjay Kumar Gautam said the NC would play the role of effective opposition. He demanded that the government ensure compensation to the flood victims in various districts such as Banke and Bardiya.

Lawmaker Durga Poudel welcomed the merger of two big communist parties and stated that this had created a base for socialism-oriented society envisioned by the constitution. She also demanded that the government do not cut development expenditure citing increased operational expenses after the adoption of federalism.

Today’s house meeting also unanimously approved a proposal tabled by Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa that the Public Security (Third Amendment) Ordinance-2075 be considered.

Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara also informed, reading a letter from the Office of the President, that President Bidhya Devi Bhandari would present the government’s policies and programmes in the Parliament on Monday at 4:00pm.