Kathmandu, May 25

The House of Representatives continued discussion on the government’s policies and programmes for the third day today.

Before the deliberations began, Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara drew the attention of lawmakers towards low attendance in the sessions. He also called for the government’s representative to be present on time in the HoR to ensure that the house proceedings began on time.

Lawmaker Subas Nembang referring to the opposition’s comments on the government’s policies and programmes said it was the beauty of democracy where an opposition could present its views.

Underscoring the need for leading the country towards prosperity, he said the constitution that was adopted through consensus could be amended as per the need of time.

Lawmaker Bijaya Kumar Gachchhadar criticised the government’s policy and programme for failing to incorporate aspects like physical infrastructure, social development, tourism, agriculture and water resources. Terming the policies and programmes a base for realising the government’s goal of ‘Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepalis’, lawmaker Dev Gurung hoped that the upcoming budget would implement the announcements made by the government.

On the other hand, lawmaker Mahendra Raya Yadav termed the policies and programmes ‘ambitious’, and said they did not include any provision for providing relief to the families of martyrs.

Lawmaker Ghanashyam Bhusal supported the policies and programmes, stating that it envisioned creating an environment where the population dependent on agriculture would be mobilised in non-agriculture sectors in five years. Bhusal also said that the government was completely focused on strengthening socialism in the country.

Lawmaker Bal Krishna Khand suggested to the government to amend policies and programmes in such a way that it addressed the aspirations of the people. He also stressed that the government should work to empower local bodies so that people could enjoy the benefits of federalism.

Referring to the government’s plan to lower remittance’s contribution to the economy, promote the private sector, guarantee investment and profit and attract investment, lawmaker Binod Chaudhary said success would depend on effective implementation of development plans. He, however, said the policies and programmes missed the execution aspect completely.

On the oppositions’ comments that the policies and programmes sought to sell dreams, lawmaker Yogesh Bhattarai said it was normal for living beings to dream higher. He said the policies and programmes were a base for realising the aspirations of the people, and a roadmap for achieving socialism-oriented society envisioned by the constitution.

Stating that the opposition was beset by unnecessary fear and dilemma, he termed the comments by opposition lawmakers ‘stale questions’. “I request the opposition lawmakers not to raise stale and irrelevant issues and make the government lazy,” he said.