Kathmandu, October 2
Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal has said he does not feel that Parliament has become weaker.
Speaking to journalists on the occasion of the conclusion of the budget session of the House of Representatives, Aryal said there had been no decline in the dignity, pace of work or accountability of Parliament towards the people.
Aryal recalled his previous experience as a member of the House of Representatives for three years, as well as his interest in parliamentary affairs even before entering politics.
He said that even when comparing the current Parliament with previous ones, he did not feel that it had become weaker under his leadership.
“I have not felt at all that Parliament has become weaker. I also worked as a member of the House for three years in the past. Even before entering politics as a citizen, I had been observing Nepal’s Parliament,” he said.
Aryal said it was natural to experience fatigue while working for nearly 30 million Nepalis, but such fatigue had not affected the role of Parliament.
Speaking about parliamentary proceedings and the government’s delivery, Aryal said holding the executive accountable and pressing it to perform was a shared responsibility of lawmakers, citizens and journalists.
He said the current Parliament had instead introduced several new practices.
According to Aryal, unlike in previous sessions, both the ruling and opposition sides had held intensive discussions on issues concerning people’s livelihoods and other important matters.
He said top political leaders had also been given time twice a month to raise issues concerning the people directly from the rostrum.
Such new practices had made Parliament more effective, he said.
Aryal is also preparing to participate in an Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) assembly as Nepal’s representative.
He said Nepal was preparing to present the impact of climate change and compensation-related issues as an emergency agenda at the forum.
According to Aryal, the proposal has already received support from around 50 countries, while preparations are underway for around 28 side meetings.
Aryal also said he had given special priority to using Nepali, the country’s mother tongue, at meetings with diplomatic missions and international forums during his tenure, saying the practice had helped strengthen Nepal’s identity.
Journalists also raised questions about the construction of the new federal Parliament building.
Responding to the concerns over delays in the construction of the building, Aryal said he was confident that future parliamentary meetings would be held in the new building.
