India-Pakistan tensions echo in Nepal parliament, call for vigilance
KATHMANDU: In today’s session of the House of Representatives, lawmakers from various political parties stressed the need for Nepal to remain vigilant amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, citing potential short-term and long-term impacts on the country due to its geographic and geopolitical sensitivity.
Nepali Congress MP Sanjay Kumar Gautam highlighted the gravity of the situation, urging the government to hold timely discussions on possible consequences arising from an India-Pakistan conflict. “Given Nepal’s open borders and strategic location, it is imperative that we remain prepared,” he said. He also emphasized the growing conflict in Southeast Asia and called for national unity among political parties.
Gautam further urged political consensus on key issues such as constitutional amendments, strengthening federalism, and promoting cultural preservation to restore public confidence. He drew attention to the rising threat of wild animals in national parks, noting that two people were killed and 11 injured by leopard attacks in Bardiya in the past three months. He appealed to the government to ensure citizens’ safety in such areas.
CPN-UML MP Achyut Prasad Mainali praised the government’s newly introduced policies and programs, calling them bold and innovative. He urged for their smooth passage and encouraged the opposition to engage in constructive and fact-based discussions. Stressing institutional development of the federal democratic republic and economic growth, Mainali called for a unified political vision.
Rupa Sosi (Chaudhary), MP from CPN (Maoist Centre), emphasized the need for government action against large-scale corruption and irregularities. She advocated for public-private partnerships over privatization to support Nepal’s transition to a socialist-oriented economy. She also raised concerns about the financial losses at Nepal Electricity Authority, calling for reforms to enhance its efficiency.
Rastriya Swatantra Party MP Chanda Karki (Bhandari) drew attention to the vacant position of the Nepal Rastra Bank Governor, urging the government to promptly appoint a new governor to stabilize the economy and improve the financial system. She warned of growing economic distress, poor governance, and underperformance in productive and service sectors.
Rastriya Prajatantra Party MP Bikram Pandey warned of a hotter and wetter monsoon season, as forecasted by meteorologists. He stressed the need for early preparedness in disaster risk management, including streamlined relief distribution and emergency response mechanisms.
Sher Bahadur Kunwar, MP from CPN (Unified Socialist), expressed heartfelt condolences on the demise of a senior leftist leader. He stressed the urgency of promoting good governance and accelerating development projects. Highlighting the hardships faced by citizens, he called for the speedy completion of the Butwal–Narayanghat road section.
