KATHMANDU, May 5: Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba has said that the railways connecting China and India should be built only on grant.
Deuba, who is also the former prime minister, said so while speaking during the discussion on the government's annual policies and programs which is currently underway at the Federal Parliament Building, New Baneswor.
"Even though it has planned to begin the construction of the railways connecting China and India within the next two years, the government seems oblivious regarding the feasibility, cost and benefit and required resources for the same," Deuba said, who is also the leader of the main opposition.
Saying that the NC is in favor of establishing rail-road, inland and air connectivity with both the immediate neighbors China and India, the NC president was of the view that the government should prioritize developing such mega connectivity projects after conducting the cost and benefit analysis. "We hold the view that the railways connecting China and India should be built only on grant," he said.
Deuba also slammed the government for muzzling the press freedom. "It is also interfering in the constitutional bodies and breaching their jurisdiction. Hence, the principle of balance of power among the state organs has been mired," he said.
NC President said that people are hopeless with the government's performance since it came to power.
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"The government's policies and programs look like a collection of scattered and groundless document prepared without making necessary preparations," he said. The policies and programs are unlikely to ensure desired outcomes, he said.
Deuba also accused the government of attempting to drag the president into controversy.
During his address, NC President Deuba compared the style of President Bidya Devi Bhandari’s presentation on the policies and programs with that of British queen.
Earlier on Saturday, the Nepali Congress had registered the amendment proposal on the government's annual policies and programs.
The NC, in its amendment proposal, demanded the government to replace the words ‘my government’ in the policy and program unveiled by the president on Friday with ‘Nepal government’.
The NC registered an amendment at the parliament secretariat seeking to replace the objectionable phrase used by the president with something more acceptable to all.
Altogether three political parties have registered six amendments to the government’s policy and programs. A joint amendment registered by two dozen NC lawmakers has sought replacing the words ‘my government’ with ‘Nepal government’ in the policy and program.
The NC has also demanded revision of other provisions in the policy and program curtailing the rights of provincial and local governments, weakening democratic values as well as amendment of unclear polices on achieving good governance, development and prosperity.
Four lawmakers of Rastriya Janata Party Nepal including presidium member Rajendra Mahato registered separate amendments to the policy and program.
Earlier, NCP deputy parliamentary party leader Subas Nembang had instructed the ruling lawmakers to support the policy and program.
With their amendment proposals, parliamentarians are commenting on the government's policies and programs at the ongoing session of the House of Representatives.
