Parliament raises urgent social, agricultural & constitutional concerns
KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress lawmaker Rekha Kumari Yadav has called on the government to immediately halt what she described as “bulldozer intimidation” against 34 households in Ward No. 5 of Gaushala Municipality, Mahottari.
Speaking in the House of Representatives, she stressed that the issue is not limited to 34 households but is directly linked to constitutional rights to food, shelter, and clothing, as well as human dignity, rule of law, and democratic values.
Yadav stated that the area in question was historically used as a local market land (Kitta No. 115), where residents have been living and utilizing the land since before 2028 BS (1971–72 AD). She claimed that local authorities had long recognized this arrangement by collecting rent, levying taxes, and allowing house construction permits, along with providing recommendations for land registration and mapping purposes.
She further alleged that despite a Supreme Court decision, authorities have been issuing eviction notices and threatening demolition drives, causing severe mental distress among residents. She claimed that this pressure led to the death of a 62-year-old local resident, Vinod Sah, due to a heart attack.
Yadav urged the government to immediately stop forced eviction actions, ensure legal and humanitarian protection for the affected families, and resolve the dispute through dialogue.
In a separate development, Amresh Kumar Singh of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) demanded immediate payment of dues to sugarcane farmers. Speaking in Parliament, he said sugar mills have not cleared payments on time and even government subsidies have not reached farmers.
He also raised concerns ahead of the upcoming paddy plantation season, warning of a severe fertilizer shortage. Singh said fertilizer supply remains insufficient, despite the planting season approaching within 10–15 days.
Additionally, he warned that river erosion in Bagmati River could displace more than 50,000 residents in wards 1 to 4 of Barahathwa Municipality in Sarlahi, urging immediate government intervention.
Meanwhile, Nepali Congress MP Arjun Narsingh KC called for a broader and more inclusive national dialogue on constitutional amendment. Speaking in the House, he proposed the formation of a powerful all-party commission led by a former Chief Justice, including constitutional experts, political parties, administrative specialists, and civil society representatives.
He argued that limiting constitutional debate to government committees would not ensure legitimacy or consensus. Instead, he emphasized the need for a national dialogue through a grand conference mechanism to build long-term political stability, democratic trust, and national unity.
