Outgoing members concerned over parliament’s declining dignity

KATHMANDU, March 1: Members of the National Assembly, who are about to complete their six-year tenure, have said that the prestige and dignity of parliament has declined. In the meeting on Thursday, the parliamentarians expressed their opinion about the experience gained during the parliamentary exercise and said that they have gained important experience in the National Assembly although its dignity has been declining. 

The term of office of 20 members of parliament with six-year tenure is coming to an end on March 2. While sharing her experience, National Concern and Coordination Committee Chairperson Dilkumari Thapa Rawal (Parbati) expressed her belief that the National Assembly's rules are being amended for the third time now, and that it will raise the dignity of the National Assembly.

Chairman of the Sustainable Development and Good Governance Committee Prakash Pantha said that this assembly should play a stronger role to make the government accountable and responsible to parliament. He said that the house and committee should be modernized by making maximum use of information technology.

Member of Parliament Indu Kadaria recalled the day when she had entered the House with curiosity and excitement and expressed her sadness that there were some unparliamentary practices in the House. She suggested not engaging in unparliamentary practices in parliament in the coming days.

She said, “Unparliamentary practice has also been experienced; the parties in the government have tried to shut parliament abruptly and limit its role using shortcuts.” She requested that such actions should be avoided. 

MP Khimlal Devkota said that the House is like a university for his three years of parliamentary practice, experience and knowledge. He said that he attended about 94 percent of the meetings, i.e. 130 days.

He said, “I have spoken more than 13 hours, which is three times more time than other members on average. I got an opportunity to speak about the concerns of the local level and the provinces.”

MP Mahesh Kumar Mahara said that political leadership should be taken to increase the prestige and dignity of the assembly. He said that because of the limitations of the National Assembly, its prestige has decreased and it should be empowered by means of constitutional amendments.

He said, “In the past, when issues of public concern were raised, the government was silent. The government should be serious about the problems raised by MPs.”

MP Singh Bahadur Bishwakarma said that the National Assembly should play a role in the future by focusing on empowering the people. MP Deepa Gurung said that she was sent to the National Assembly where the problems of the people and the country were to be solved.

Member of Parliament Narpati Luwar said that it was important for him that he had the opportunity to study the implementation of the issues promised by the government while being in the Delegated Legislation and Government Assurance Committee.

MP Kumar Dasoudi said that the government is not serious about the issues raised in the House. 

MP Hariram Chaudhary suggested increasing the dignity of the National Assembly by criticizing the question raised about the existence of the National Assembly. He said that it is his experience that the government has not responded responsibly to the issues raised by the people. 

 
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