Amidst a period of parliamentary obstruction, with bills awaiting discussion and budgetary concerns unattended, Speaker Devraj Ghimire has left for Geneva, Switzerland, leading a 10-member delegation to attend the 148th General Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) from March 23 to March 27. The departure of Speaker Ghimire's delegation coincides with the adjournment of sessions of the House of Representatives for 10 days. Among the delegates are Padma Prasad Pandey, the General Secretary of the Federal Parliament Secretariat; Ekram Giri, Joint Secretary and Spokesperson; Under Secretary Pradeep Guragain; and Tejprakash Bhattarai, the Chief Personal Secretary to the Speaker. At this critical juncture, Speaker Ghimire's decision to travel to Geneva is questionable, given the ongoing obstruction by the opposition party in parliament and the pressing matters awaiting deliberation, including crucial bills essential for the forthcoming Investment Summit and discussions on the principles and priorities of the upcoming budget. If the Speaker deemed it necessary to travel abroad, it begs the question why the Deputy Speaker wasn't entrusted with the responsibility to preside over the proceedings. This has raised questions about the relevance of the Deputy Speaker's position.
Spanish Speaker on a visit to Nepal
The current obstruction in parliament stems from the Nepali Congress (NC), the largest party in the House of Representatives, demanding a 'Parliamentary Probe Committee' to investigate allegations against Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane regarding a cooperative scam. Consequently, pre-budget discussions remain incomplete. Regrettably, Speaker Devraj Ghimire has postponed the House of Representatives meeting for 10 days and embarked on a foreign tour. In such a critical juncture, the Speaker and chief whips appear neglectful to the people by shutting down parliament and prioritizing foreign engagements. While attending the IPU meeting is not inherently inappropriate, the closure of the House of Representatives could have been avoided. Instead, the Deputy Speaker could have been empowered to oversee proceedings, potentially through delegation under their leadership.
This situation conveys a disconcerting message that the nation's issues and the people's welfare are not paramount to people's representatives. Such actions often invoke comparisons to 'Nero's flute,' suggesting a detachment from responsibility among those in leadership roles. The Speaker and chief whips of parties representing the HoR must recognize their duty to address the impediments within the House of Representatives. As representatives of their respective parties and parliamentary officials, chief whips serve as the link between the parliament and the parties, tasked with reminding the Speaker of their responsibility to resolve issues. Even the Chief Whip of the NC, which obstructs parliament, should display greater accountability. Both the main opposition, which resorts to obstructive tactics, and the ruling party, which remains passive rather than engaging in meaningful dialogue, must be held accountable. If elected representatives prioritize loyalty to political leaders over their responsibilities to the electorate, public disillusionment will only deepen.
