KATHMANDU, June 17: Lawmakers in the House of Representatives (HoR) on Wednesday called for proper management of landless people currently kept in holding centres in Kathmandu and sought clarification over the prime minister’s recent remarks on Nepal–India border issues.
Speaking during the special time at the beginning of the House meeting, Harkaraj Rai of the Shram Sanskriti Party urged the government to make proper arrangements for landless people housed in various holding centres in Kathmandu.
Nepali Communist Party lawmaker Gopal Sharma stated that the Constitution of Nepal requires the government to remain accountable to Parliament. He urged the Speaker to issue a ruling regarding the prime minister’s statements on border issues and asked the prime minister to address the House and correct his remarks.
Applications of 1.2 million landless people collected
Sharma also said that incidents of ministers making irresponsible public statements had surfaced and stressed that those making inappropriate remarks should be held accountable.
CPN-UML lawmaker Kriparam Rana said Nepal’s territory had been encroached upon in areas including Lipulekh, Kalapani, Limpiyadhura and Susta, adding that nothing should stand above national interest. He also drew the government’s attention to reports of inhumane treatment of landless people in holding centres.
Similarly, Nepali Congress lawmaker Chandramohan Yadav criticised the prime minister’s remarks on Nepal–India border issues delivered through Parliament and argued that they should be corrected.
Questioning the Speaker’s neutrality, Yadav said he hoped the Speaker would perform his duties independently without being affiliated with any political party, and questioned whether he had been able to “cut the umbilical cord” of his relationship with the ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP).
RSP lawmaker Ganesh Karki objected to Yadav’s remarks, following which Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal said he had taken note of the concerns raised regarding the statement.
