‘CANCELING HOUSE MEETING AT THE TIME OF NATIONAL DISASTER IS WRONG’

KATHMANDU, July 16:  The parliament is under the government’s control and Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara has become the government’s puppet, said Mahendra Yadav, a leader of main opposition party Nepali Congress (NC).

The House of Representatives meeting scheduled to be held on Monday, which was expected to discuss the devastation across the country resulted by the floods and landslides triggered by days of incessant monsoon rainfall which left over 65 dead and thousands displaced, was put off until July 24.

“Postponing the parliament meeting at the time of National disaster is wrong,” said Mahendra Yadav, leader of main opposition party Nepali Congress in a television interview Janata Janna Chahanchan.

The opposition parties NC and Rastriya Janata Party Nepal (RJPN) had registered a motion on the matter of public importance seeking a discussion on the havoc caused by flood and landslides triggered by monsoon rainfall across the country.

However, Speaker Mahara, who according to NC Chief Whip Bal Krishna Khand was positive about the meeting, later adjourned the meeting.

According to Mahara’s press advisor Dilli Malla, the Speakers postponed the meeting to avoid yet another House obstruction. The opposition parties have been obstructing the parliament since July 9 demanding formation of a parliamentary committee to investigate the loss of two lives in police firing in Sarlahi.

Yadav said that the oppositions did not request the Speaker to convene the meeting to obstruct it but to discuss the ways to support the people affected by rain-related disasters.

“We requested the Speaker to call a House meeting to discuss the devastation across the country resulted by monsoon floods and landslides. We showed that we are with the government to support the affected people,” said Yadav.

“We did not want to block the House proceedings. But the Speaker put up a notice announcing the cancelation of the meeting blocking the discussion,” added Yadav.

“The government should have co-operated us. The meeting should not have been deferred for a week when the nation is suffering from natural disasters.”

The Speaker’s decision has also raised questions on his ability to play a neutral role in the parliament yet again. Mahara has faced criticisms for supporting the Nepal Communist Party earlier as well when the ruling party bulldozed the National Medical Education Bill through the parliament despite strong NC protest. Mahara’s ability was also questioned when he did not allow NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba to speak in the parliament prior to Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli when the controversial Guthi Bill was registered at the National Assembly.

According to reports, the Speaker canceled the meeting following the direct instruction from the prime minister.

“Mahara is the Speaker of Nepal Communist Party. It is clear that the parliament is under government control,” fumed Yadav.

“Speaker cannot take a party’s side. He should act neutral,” he added.

“But the Speaker has become the government’s puppet here,” he said.

Yadav also urged the government to convene the parliament meeting as soon as possible so that all the political parties and leaders could work together to support the people who are in need.

Yadav also accused the government of failing to help and provide relief to the flood and landslides affected people.

The television interview also witnessed a heated debate between leader Yadav and NCP lawmaker Yagya Raj Sunuwar as Sunuwar was defending the government.

KATHMANDU, June 3: Leader of the main opposition party Nepali Congress, Mahendra Yadav has said that the government brought the budget going against the spirit of constitution and federalism.

“The budget is against the constitution and federalism because only 19 percent of the budget goes to local levels and 14 percent for provincial levels. 70 percent budget is for central government,” said Yadav at an interaction program organized by the Reporters’ Club Nepal on Sunday.

However the government has defended its budget allocation for local and provincial levels—which is Rs 225 billion– saying the budget was reduced due to inability to spend under the new federal setup.

“Even the Nepal Communist Party’s chief ministers have expressed dissatisfaction over the budget. It indicates that the budget for the fiscal year 2018/19 is not fair,” he added.

The former minister, Yadav also expressed his dissatisfaction over not incorporating the erstwhile government’s decisions in the budget.

The previous government led by Sher Bahadur Deuba had decided to reduce the eligibility age for the elderly allowance to 65-70, provide Rs 5000 monthly a livelihood allowance for kidney and cancer patients and to those paralyzed by spinal injury. “But the Oli-led government has failed to include these programs in the budget”, Yadav said.

“Oli has failed to do what it promised to the people during the elections,” he added.

“He promised Rs 5000 monthly allowance to senior citizens during the polls. But, he didn’t incorporate it in the budget. Oli cheated the voters, the senior citizens, youth and people,” he fumed.

“The government talks about big promises and about social transformation through economic revolution, but in reality, the budget has forgotten the society,” he added.

KATHMANDU, Dec 14: Minister for Drinking Water and Sanitation and Nepali Congress central member Mahendra Yadav on Thursday said that his party was ready to accept CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal as the new prime minister of the country arguing that only Dahal could lead the country toward the path of prosperity and constitution implementation.

Speaking at an interaction program organized by the Reporters’ Club Nepal in Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu, Yadav quick to express his distrust toward CPN-UML Chairman KP Oli. He said, “If Oli becomes the prime minister, the achievements of changes could be lost.”

Yadav lost the elections to the House of Representatives in Dhanusha constituency-4 to UML’s left alliance candidate Raghuveer Mahaseth.

“It is because of Maoist Center, the agendas of federalism, republic and inclusiveness has been institutionalized. Thus, Maoist Center should not follow UML, instead the party must play guardianship role to systematic implementation of the agendas of changes in the country,” he added.

“If Prachanda becomes the prime minister of the country, he can protect the achievements and lead the nation toward the path of constitution implementation and economic prosperity.”

“Nepali Congress has full support to him.”

“Prachanda is a patience, experienced, stable and strong leader who is sensitive to people’s feelings. He is the guardian of the country. He is the best candidate for the PM post.”

NO NEED OF NEW PARTY LEADERSHIP

Minister Yadav also said that Nepal Congress (NC) is not worried despite its loss in the federal election. NC only won in 23 seats in House of Representatives under first-past-the-post category where as UML emerged as the largest party winning 80 seats. Maoist Center emerged won 36 seats.

“But the party’s leadership is not going to change because there is no alternative to Sher Bahadur Deuba.”

“Youth leaders have blamed the party’s leadership for the election loss. But we are in no condition to change the leadership,” said Yadav referring to Gagan Thapa’s remark for need to searching new leadership in the party.

“Deuba will be the president till next General Convention.”

“And, there is no need any Convention immediately,” he added.

“Party’s General Assembly meeting will be called very soon to review the election results and discuss the future strategies,” he added.

KATHMANDU, Sept 5: Minister for Drinking Water and Sanitation and Nepali Congress (NC) leader Mahendra Yadav has claimed that his party will win at least 106 seats and become the first party in Province 2 election.

“It is Nepali Congress who developed Terai-Madhes. Leaders and cadres there are willing to make NC the first party. We have also fielded veteran and popular leaders as candidates in the upcoming election,” said Minister Yadav while speaking at an interaction program organized by the Reporters’ Club Nepal on Tuesday.

“People of Terai-Madhes believe Nepali Congress. Of 136 local levels, NC will get victory in at least 106 places,” claimed Yadav.

He further said that NC will form poll alliance with its ruling partner CPN (Maoist Center) (MC) in 9 – 10 local units located near highway. According to him, NC will form alliance with MC in Jitpur of Simara, Bagmati, Lalbandi and Hariban of Sarlahi, Dhalkabar (Mithila) of Dhanusha, Kajarnha, Merchaiya and Golbazar of Siraha.

On the occasion, the Drinking water minister also assured that the Melamchi water project will complete by December this year. Stating that Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba himself inspected the long awaited national pride project, Yadav added, “The dwellers of Kathmandu Metropolitan City have Melamchi water in at their homes by the end of this year.”

KATHMANDU, July 26: Minister for Water Supply and Sanitation, Mahendra Yadav, has said his main goal was to ensure clean drinking water to the people from across the country.

Assuming his office at the Ministry on Wednesday, Minister Yadav, reminded that clean drinking water is the fundamental rights of citizen. “One can live without houses and roads, but can’t live without clean drinking water,” he said, adding that drinking water must be ensured to citizen at any cost.

Also the former chairman of Tarun Dal, Minister Yadav, further said he had spent the budget allocated from the parliamentarians’ development fund to the drinking water and sanitation.

Ministry Secretary Bhim Prasad Upadhyay welcomed the Minister and viewed that the Ministry employees were working seriously to bring Melamchi water in the Kathmandu Valley. RSS

KATHMANDU, June 17: The ruling party Nepali Congress leader Mahendra Yadav has claimed that the election in Province 2 was rescheduled in agreement with Rastriya Janata Party Nepal.

“Mahanta Thakur was there while reaching the deal,” he said while speaking during an interaction program organized by the Reporters’ Club Nepal on Saturday.

“Even the date of election was fixed in presence of RJPN leaders,” he claimed, “Therefore, election will be held at any cost. No power could disrupt it.”

“I don’t know why they are doing this,” he added.

The government during a meeting with RJPN leaders, on Thursday, decided to reschedule election in Province 2 and fixed it for September 18. But RJPN said that the decision was unacceptable as they were seeking poll deferral in all provinces until their demands are met.

He further claimed that RJPN will not be able to disrupt election as the election was postponed in their understanding. He added, “If they try to foil the election in Terai-Madhes, their own people will not give them any place in future.”

He expressed his confidence that RJPN will participate in the election at any cost. “The government is doing its best to make environment for RJPN to participate in election by addressing their genuine demands.”

“Nepali Congress is committed to give outlet to nation. RJPN will have to cooperate in conducting the local level election,” he added.

“After that Deuba government will hold election of province and federal level,” he further added.