HoR losing its dignity?

 The Himalayan Times

9 September 2022

HoR losing its dignity?

It seems that the major political parties and some of the fringe parties joining hands together assume that they can do anything they want in the name of majority in the House of Representative (HoR). During the last one year, this government had passed some major bills concerning national interest through “Yea” or “Nay” voice system undermining the democratic norms, the role of the opposition and other fringe parties’ lawmakers. Among them was the much controversial citizenship bill that was passed using a fast track system sidelining the normal process of the HoR. Also the National Assembly had passed the bill without doing any serious deliberation.

It was not unusual to see Rajendra Lingden, RPP Chair, announcing his resignation from the lower house, citing it would be morally unfair for him to continue as a lawmaker and receive perks and benefits even after the announcement of the upcoming provincial and federal election dates. Following Lingden’s announcement, there was a hyper debate in the HoR among the ruling and opposition lawmakers whether or not to extend the current HoR’s tenure “Lawmakers engaged in heated debate on HoR tenure” (THT, September 4, Page 1). The other day, the Election Commission (EC) had to issue a press release opposing the government’s ill-intentioned move to determine the tenure of the current HoR “EC against extending HoR’s tenure” (THT, September 5, Page 1).

The people had expected the government to consult the Election Commission about the tenure of the HoR and end the current session accordingly. Instead, it had decided to register an amendment bill proposing to determine the tenure of the HoR and the provincial assemblies citing the government wanted to end uncertainty about the tenure of these democratic institutions. But, the government had to back out of its plan of moving the bill following widespread criticism from all walks of life.

Rai Biren Bangdel

Maharajgunj