India-Pakistan tension worries MPs over security of Nepali community

Kathmandu, May 9: Lawmakers have advised the government to be aware of the ongoing India-Pakistan tension and its repercussion in Nepal. They have also called on the government to pay attention to the security of a large Nepali population working in India.    

Airing their views in a Zero Hour of the House of Representatives (HoR) meeting today, Sher Bahadur Kunwar, Shishir Khanal, Bina Jaisawal and Saraswoti Bajimaya demanded the government be focused on border security, safety of Nepali citizens in India and Pakistan and rescue of Nepali students from Pakistan amidst the growing tension between the two South Asian neighbours.    

Shanti Shrestha urged the government to allocate dedicated budget for enabling the public movement of people with disabilities while Shiva Nepali wanted the government make preparations for the potential monsoon hazard on time.    

Shobha Gyawali, Shankar Bhandari, Saraswoti Bajimaya and Ahamad Farooqi sought the government's special focus to promote the agricultural sector with the guarantee of smooth supplies of seeds, fertilizer and irrigation and the production rise at the local level.   

 
Dr. Swarnim Wagle called on the government to address the issues seen at Nepal's border with India and China.    

Sarita Bhusal has called on the government to arrange for adequate funds in the next fiscal year's budget for upgrading the Bhutaha-Amabas-Dumkibas road, which serves as an alternative route for the Daunne section of the East-West Highway, as it remains incomplete due to lack of budget.    

She said the construction of this road connecting the hilly areas of Gandaki Province and Lumbini Province can provide access to the rural population, and it can also be considered as a tourist route.    

Sitakumari Rana stated that although the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child has been ratified, it was far from implemented.    

Stating that the State's investment in children is insufficient to make the entire country child-friendly and to fulfill Nepal's commitments to the international community, she demanded that the upcoming budget should be child-friendly. (RSS)