Kathmandu, August 20
Nepali Congress President Gagan Kumar Thapa has said decisions made by the government, Parliament, courts and constitutional bodies must not only be legally valid but also be justified and acceptable in the eyes of the public.
Speaking at a book launch programme organised by the Nandaprasad Januka Foundation in Kathmandu on Thursday, Thapa said the legitimacy of decisions taken by state institutions must be demonstrated to the people.
“Decisions made by the government, Parliament, courts or constitutional bodies cannot be considered sufficient merely because they are in accordance with the law. Their justification must be proven and accepted in the eyes of the people,” Thapa said.
He also warned lawmakers against developing an attitude that winning an election gives them unlimited freedom to say or do whatever they want.
Thapa said lawmakers must exercise seriousness, caution and full responsibility even when speaking during the one-minute Zero Hour in Parliament.
He urged political leaders to learn from history, recalling how two-thirds majorities held by the Nepali Congress-CPN-UML alliance and the then Nepal Communist Party eventually lost their political strength amid growing public dissatisfaction.
Thapa also urged newly emerging political parties not to repeat the mistakes of established parties and to address their own shortcomings as they move forward.
He said the country could not afford any further “political adventurism” and called for the five-year term to be used constructively and in an organised manner.
