House of Representatives

Member of Parliament Mahabir Pun has called on the government to immediately utilize the Rural Telecommunication Fund, which holds approximately 16 billion rupees, to expand communication services in rural areas. Pun stated that the government's failure to spend these accumulated funds is depriving rural citizens of essential communication facilities. He also demanded an end to the taxi registration syndicate in Kathmandu Valley, citing population growth and a lack of new permits.

Nepal's House of Representatives has unanimously passed two bills concerning elections: the 'House of Representatives Members Election (First Amendment) Bill, 2083' and the 'Voter Name List (First Amendment) Bill, 2083'. These bills are intended to replace previous ordinances related to election law amendments. Minister Sobita Gautam presented the proposals on behalf of Prime Minister Balendra Shah.

The House of Representatives convened for a session to introduce, discuss, and potentially endorse several bills. Key legislative items on the agenda included the Tourism Bill, the National Forensic Science Laboratory Bill, and amendments to election-related legislation, specifically the House of Representatives Member Election and Voter Roll bills.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dol Prasad Aryal, has announced that Prime Minister Balendra Shah is preparing to attend a parliamentary session soon to respond to questions raised by opposition parties. This comes after continuous demands for the Prime Minister's presence and his engagement with the legislative body. Aryal stated that the date for the Prime Minister's appearance will be fixed after receiving a formal letter from the government.

Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal has informed the House of Representatives that Prime Minister Balendra Shah is preparing to attend Parliament and respond to lawmakers' questions, following disruptions by opposition parties. The opposition had been demanding the Prime Minister's immediate presence to address contemporary national issues, leading to parliamentary sessions being adjourned. The Speaker stated that the Prime Minister is aware of the ongoing developments and is ready to provide responses.

Members of the House of Representatives have drawn attention to the impact of heavy rains, storms, and landslides on citizens and infrastructure across various districts. Lawmakers are urging the government to provide appropriate compensation and relief to those affected, highlighting damage to homes, schools, and roads, and the disruption to daily life.

The CPN-UML has accused Prime Minister Balendra Shah of violating the Constitution of Nepal by consistently avoiding parliamentary accountability. UML Chief Whip Ain Bahadur Mahara stated that the Prime Minister's absence from the House of Representatives undermines democratic norms and bypasses legislative scrutiny, despite the government having a strong public mandate. Opposition parties are demanding the Prime Minister's immediate appearance to address national issues and explain his constitutional obligations.

Rastriya Swatantra Party MP Krishna Hari Budhathoki has called on the government to immediately reconsider the decision to implement a two-day weekend in the education and health sectors. Budhathoki stated in the House of Representatives that the current arrangement is impractical and has led to complaints regarding curriculum completion and access to emergency health services.

In the House of Representatives, MP Aren Rai raised questions regarding the delayed arrest of GB Rai, a business partner of Rastriya Swatantra Party Chairperson Rabi Lamichhane, in connection with alleged multi-billion rupee embezzlement from cooperatives. Rai also cautioned against misusing state funds for victim compensation while highlighting other issues.

Farmers across Nepal are facing significant challenges due to a growing monkey menace, which is destroying crops and contributing to rural migration. Lawmakers have raised concerns in parliament about the impact on livelihoods, with some suggesting drastic measures for monkey management. The issue is seen as a critical ecological imbalance affecting rural communities.