Speaking in Parliament on Sunday, main opposition Nepali Congress (NC) lawmaker Prakash Saran Mahat accused the government of ignoring the quake victims, despite a numbers of victims dying of cold. "The government seems only focused on cabinet expansion even with the number of ministers crossing the constitutional limit. What could be forcing the government to do this, while leaving aside the plight of quake victims?" asked Mahat.
Maintaining that the NC is ready to assist the government deliver a relief package to the quake victims, NC leader Mahat urged the government to focus on its duty without harboring any fear of the opposition bringing down the government. He also accused the government of failing to control the black market, adding that cadres from the ruling parties were involving in the black marketeering.
Also speaking during the special hour in Parliament Sunday, ruling CPN-UML lawmaker Baijanath Chaudhari urged the agitating parties in Madhes to adopt flexibility in their demands.
Ruling UCPN (Maoist) lawmaker Yogendra Ghising and Rastriya Janamorcha lawmaker Meena Pun also drew the attention of the government to the increasing number of deaths of quake victims due to the cold.
"Quake victims are still waiting for the Rs 10,000 relief amounts, elderly citizens, children and lower class people are in a vulnerable condition due to the frigid weather," said Maoist lawmaker Ghising. He also objected to the government's preparations to remove a temporary settlement for quake displaced people. Lawmaker Pun likewise came down heavily against the government for leaving the quake victims without proper relief.
The meeting was adjourned for lack of a quorum before it could enter into deliberations on the constitution amendment bill.
Home Minister Shakti Basnet informed Parliament about the Janakpur incident involving the president, following the speaker's ruling at the previous meeting.
Meanwhile, the National Human Right Commission (NHRC) has summoned the home minister and the home secretary to seek details on the death of quake victims from the cold.
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