Kathmandu: Nepali Congress (NC) general secretary, Biswo Prakash Sharma, has emphasized the importance of making parliamentary functions and operations more effective to enhance public trust in the parliament. Delivering his remarks during the special hour of the House of Representatives (HoR) on Wednesday, Sharma underscored the necessity of reviewing the entire functioning of the parliament to ensure it serves as a platform for gaining trust through actions and conduct.
According to National News Agency Nepal, Sharma highlighted that parliament is not solely a venue for forming governments, enacting laws, and passing budgets, but is also a shared responsibility of both the government and the opposition to realize its essence. He questioned the effectiveness of the parliament, the strength and responsibility of opposition parties, and the success in transforming citizens’ hopes and trust into achievements.
Sharma expressed concern over bills that have remained under consideration for years, the lack of significant progress in law-making, increased misunderstandings on certain bills, and the ongoing boycott of House sessions by some parties. He also reiterated the need to bring those guilty of the visit visa scam to justice, referencing ongoing investigations by the High-Level Investigation Committee and the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA).
The NC general secretary advised the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) to exercise restraint and urged the government to expedite the process of returning up to Rs 500,000 to cooperative survivors. He also called on the Home Minister to ensure the immediate return of GB Rai to the country, as his two partners are already in prison.
To address various issues, Sharma urged the government to advance the school education bill, arrange fertilizer for farmers, improve health insurance services, release Bipin Joshi, and effectively operate Bhairahawa and Pokhara airports. Additionally, he stressed the importance of a serious review before amending laws related to the release of certain prisoners.
Sharma concluded by congratulating the government on discovering gas in Dailekh and demanded that the process for its excavation be advanced promptly.