KATHMANDU, March 2: Lawmakers speaking in the 'special hour' in the meeting of the House of Representatives today called attention of the government towards the looming threat of Coronavirus (Covid-19) and the growing problem of corruption, among other contemporary issues and the urgent need of taking appropriate steps to stem them.

Ruling NCP lawmaker Devendra Poudel wished for the good health of the Prime Minister and condemned the indecent incident of throwing of shoe at NCP chjair Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' by a person on Sunday. He drew the attention of the Ministry of Home Affairs in that regard and pointed out the need of taking stringent security measures.

Poudel, through the Speaker of the House of Representatives, also drew the attention of the government to the need of adopting high alert for the prevention of the spread of coronavirus in Nepal, saying the virus has spread to about 64 countries so far.

Nepali Congress lawmaker Dilendra Prasad Badoo, alleged the government of its failure to adopt high level of precaution regarding the Covid-19 which has spread in various countries. He added that although the World Health Orgaisation has put Nepal at high risk of coronavirus, the government has not been able to make fitting preparations for its prevention. Lawmaker Badoo also accused the government of imposing extra tax on people through backdoor by skirting the parliament. Lawmaker Mahendra Raya Yadav objected to the government's decision of hiking the fuel tax so as to hurt the people. He also complained that identity could not be recognized while naming the State 3 as the Bagmati State.

Lawmaker Pradip Yadav said although full press freedom has been guaranteed in the preamble of the constitution, it was not to be seen in practice. Rajendra Prasad Lingden strongly objected to the proposal on amending the constitution said to be brought by the ruling party for fulfilling the interest of a particular person. Divyamani Rajbhandari expressed anger at the government saying it has not made adequate preparations to stop the coronavirus from entering the country in the context of its spreading as pandemic across the world.

Sarita Kumari Giri drew the government's attention towards the wild animals like elephants, boars and monkeys creating menace in settlements near the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve. Shanta Chaudhari expressed happiness at the fact that the Prime Minister chose to undergo kidney transplant within the country itself instead of going abroad and wished him full health recovery.

Also the whip of the ruling NCP parliamentary party, Chaudhari flayed the 'indecent' behaviour meted out on Sunday towards party chair and former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal in a programme in the capital. Nepali Congress lawmaker Prakash Rasaili (Snehi) said the government was knee-deep in corruption and that the 'virus of corruption' has created more terror in the country than the coronavirus.

 
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