Govt will hold election in time: PM Deuba

By A Staff Reporter Kathmandu, July 1: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba Thursday said that the government is committed to holding all periodical elections in time this year.  The House of Representatives (HoR) and the provincial assembly election are scheduled to be held in December this year which is the reason the Prime Minister expressed commitment for the timely election as critics were expressing suspicion of a fair and timely election.

Speaking in a programme in Kathmandu on the occasion of the 64th Parliament Day organised by the Forum of Former Parliamentarians, the Prime Minister said that periodical election was the backbone of democracy and the government was committed for timely election. “Periodical election is the basis and backbone of a democratic system, we will conduct the election in time at any cost,” he added.

PM Deuba appreciated the forum of the former parliamentarians for rising above party politics and supporting the government.

 Prime Minister Deuba stressed on the need for veteran parliamentarians to hold debates on national issues from time to time. Stating that all parties had a role to play in making Nepal prosperous, he expressed the commitment of the government to implement the suggestions given by the Federal Parliament and the Parliamentary Committees.

June 30 is marked as the parliament day internationally and nationally as the system began from 1959 in Nepal. Former speakers, ministers and parliamentarians were present in the programme on Thursday.

Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Govinda Prasad Sharma Kairala assured that the government was conscious about endorsing the citizenship bill soon. 

He said that eight such ordinances have been moved forward as replacement bills. He also suggested that the former parliamentary forum should review the parliamentary activities and play the role of a watchdog of the parliament. He mentioned that the practice of parliament had not started from the western countries but from the eastern civilisation. 

Similarly, Deputy Parliamentary Party Leader of CPN-UML Subas Nembang complained that the government ignored the issues raised by the opposition in the House. 

“We demanded CCTV footage of the Ministry of Finance after the news came out that the Finance Minister had changed tax rates by taking outsiders into the Finance Ministry the day before the budget was brought to verify the allegation against the minister but the government ignored it,” he said, adding that ignoring the voices of the opposition is not good practice in a parliamentary system.