Border dispute will be solved through diplomatic efforts: PM Shah

By Raman Poudel

Kathmandu, June 1 : Prime Minister Balendra Shah on Sunday appeared in the House of Representatives and responded to queries raised by the opposition and ruling party lawmakers.

This is the first time Prime Minister Shah has spoken in parliament since his appointment to the highest executive office.

The opposition lawmakers had been persistently demanding that the Prime Minister attend the parliament and furnish replies to their questions covering a wide range of national issues.

In response to the questions from various lawmakers, Prime Minister Shah stated that the government's first year in office will be characterised by good governance.

“The government is working to control corruption that has corroded our society for centuries. It will take time to uproot it,” he said, picking a question from the Rastriya Swatantra Party lawmaker Kabindra Burlakoti.

Stating that the nation needs resources, he noted that its products can be exported to various countries. “We should be export-oriented. The country needs money for nation-building and we are focused on this,” he said.

Responding to the question raised by Nepali Congress lawmaker Arjun Narasingh KC regarding the report of the National Human Rights Commission, PM Shah said that the government will study all reports of various probe commissions submitted to the government in different periods and make them public in appropriate time.

Lawmaker KC urged the PM to form an impartial commission to investigate the destructive activities that took place on the second day of the Gen Z movement.

Squatters will get land

Regarding the settlement of squatters that were removed from the river banks, especially in Kathmandu Valley, Prime Minister Shah clarified that his government will manage the land for the genuine squatters currently staying in the holding centres.

He reminded everyone that initiatives to relocate citizens living in hazardous conditions along the riverbanks in the Valley have already taken place. “While working as the Mayor of Kathmandu, I had called on the federal government to remove the squatters from these areas and place them in designated places.” The PM was responding to the questions from Shram Sanskriti Party lawmaker Aren Rai.

The PM said: “Although the request has been made to provide land to the genuine squatters, who do not have land anywhere in the country, the issue has not been addressed. The government and our party believe that squatters have the right to get land."

Border issue to be sorted out through diplomacy

PM Shah committed that the Nepal government will resolve the border issue with India through diplomatic discussions. He was responding to the queries of CPN- UML lawmaker Padma Aryal. She asked the PM about the Indian encroachment on the Nepali territories, including Lipulek, Limpiyadhura, and Kalapani, located in the far-west Nepal.

“What is Nepal government's view on the bilateral understanding between India and China that are building a trade route on Nepali territory, without consulting Nepal? What is the government doing?” she asked.

PM Shah informed that the government has officially sent a diplomatic note to the Indian government regarding these issues and India has sent its replies to Nepal.

Responding to questions by RPP MP Khusbu Oli, PM Shah informed that strict instructions have been given to airports and ministries to prevent misuse of visit visas.  Oli asked the government to stop the exploitation of Nepali migrant workers and human trafficking.

In response to the question by independent lawmaker Mahabir Pun, Prime Minister Shah committed that the government will discuss and make preparations, aiming to allow voting rights to the Nepalis living abroad.

The Prime Minister's statement on the border issue, along with the agendas and proceedings for the meeting, prompted several lawmakers from various opposition parties to express their dissatisfaction following the question-and-answer session.

Aren Rai and Dhruba Rai from the Shram Shanskriti Party, Guru Baral and Ain Bahadur Mahar from UML, Basana Thapa and Arjun Narasingh KC from the NC, Ramesh Malla from NCP expressed their dissatisfactions against the government. 

Most of the speakers demanded that the statement on the border dispute be removed from the parliamentary records, arguing that it undermines national integrity.

Lower House approves HoR Regulations amidst Opposition’s protest  

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives (HoR) Sunday approved the House of Representatives Regulations, 2083 BS with majority votes.

The opposition lawmakers protested when Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal announced the passage of the regulations.

Ganesh Parajuli, chairperson of HoR Regulations Draft Committee, had proposed to pass its report in the House meeting.

The Regulations have granted special rights to the lawmakers.