KATHMANDU, AUGUST 22
Members of the House of Representatives (HoR) continued voicing concern over the India–China agreement to reopen the trading route via Lipulekh, urging that the matter be resolved through diplomatic channels.
During the HoR's Special Hour session today, lawmaker Ramhari Khatiwada stressed that the agreement concerning the reopening of the trading route along the Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura, and Kalapani areas must be addressed diplomatically.
He noted that Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli is likely to visit both neighboring countries in the coming days and underscored the importance of resolving the issue through high-level diplomatic dialogue. He further emphasized the need for all Nepalis to stand united and support the head of government in this endeavor.
Echoing Khatiwada's remarks, Metmani Chaudhary also urged the government to raise the issue and pursue a diplomatic settlement.
Similarly, Mahesh Kumar Bartaula apprised the parliament of the alarming rise in cattle deaths caused by Lumpy Skin Disease in Makawanpur district. He reported that 33,645 cows and buffaloes have died from the infection in the past two months alone, causing an estimated economic loss of around Rs 70 billion.
Bartaula called on the Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development and the government to ensure the timely availability of vaccines to curb the spread of the disease.
Barshaman Pun voiced concern over the government's decision to alter tax rates without parliamentary approval. He described the move-made less than a month after the Finance Bill was passed-as an "economic crime" and demanded an explanation from the Minister for Finance.
Prabhu Shah questioned why the diplomatic notes Nepal sent to India and China a decade ago-asserting that Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura, and Kalapani fall within Nepal's territory-have gone unanswered.
He also raised concerns about the performance of Nepal's ambassadors to those countries and called for their performance evaluations. On another note, Shah demanded an impartial investigation into the recent fatal stabbing of a youth in Gaur, Rautahat.
Bhagwati Chaudhary expressed concern over the lack of measures to protect the Tharu language in Koshi Province and urged all three tiers of government to address the issue. She called on the government to grant Tharu official language status and to ensure its use in government functions.
Likewise, Hitraj Pandey demanded compensation for the families of those who recently died after falling off a cliff in Chumnumri, a remote village in the northern belt of Gorkha district.
