Kathmandu, February 10, 2022
Speaker Agni Prasad Sapkota has said that the Nepali people have a high level of democratic conduct and character and will not allow anyone to go to extremes. Speaking at a program organized here today to exchange experiences between the Vice-Chairperson of the National Assembly and the Deputy Speakers of the seven states, he said that the people were watching the work being done by the executive, judiciary, and legislature.
Speaker Sapkota said, ”We are working to create an environment to make the parliament vibrant and people-oriented. Many questions have been raised about the parliament. I have been working on where my initiative has not reached. Where should it be extended? And I have taken the suggestions positively”.
Mentioning that the current debate will lead us to a conclusion in the interest of the country, he said, ”People who have studied history well are paramount. The people, full of patriotism, will make the right decision. I have great power to be neutral, fair and independent”.
Stating that the country has been facing epidemics, political, and climate crises one after the other, Speaker Sapkota said that the parliament should focus on law-making as the only way to achieve good results is through positive thinking.
He said, ”Like the world community, a new national vision should be formulated in Nepal as well. The country and the people will be benefited by the thoughts and ideas that grow in honesty and loyalty to the motherland.” Stating that it would be easier for the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker to conduct the meeting through discussion and interaction with all, Speaker Sapkota said that the new and challenging responsibilities have boosted the confidence of all the Deputy Speakers.
Stating that democracy is not a matter of discourse but a matter of assimilation and
implementation in practice, he said that despite being the highest practicing body of democracy in the parliament, it has not been able to exercise its capabilities and competences due to various reasons.
National Assembly Vice-Chairperson Shashikala Dahal said that the work of lawmaking and
parliamentary practice could not be carried out as planned due to the Covid-19 epidemic
affecting the parliament like other regions in the last two years. He said that the bills and other issues of public concern were affected due to lack of adequate meetings and discussions and various aspects of learning were missed due to the non-conduct of regular sittings of the parliament.
Vice President Dahal said, “All the parliamentarians have an equal role in the parliamentary
activities from the making of laws to the running of the house. But women office-bearers and parliamentarians, with few exceptions, have felt overwhelmed by these practices”.
Deputy Speaker of Province No. 1 Saraswati Pokharel shared her experience of having to work in a very difficult situation. He said, ”Obstacles have been removed after the initiative was taken to give the right to start and end the meeting to the Deputy Speaker. Now the meeting has been conducted jointly. Due to the practice in the state, women’s leadership is developing. In the coming days, there should be an arrangement for women to be the Speaker in at least three states”.
Deputy Speaker of Madhes Pradesh, Upma kumari Dev, claimed that she was capable as she was practicing to run and end the state assembly. She said, ”As a woman, we have to face various challenges and problems. The states have been named. More than 50 bills have been passed. Some are still under discussion.”
Deputy Speaker of Bagmati Pradesh Radhika Tamang informed about the work done by the
state assembly in the last four years including the passage of 61 bills and inclusive and
proportional representation. She said, ”The inter-state experience exchange program for capacity building of women parliamentarians has increased the activism of women members in lawmaking.”
Deputy Speaker of Gandaki Pradesh Sirjana Sharma said that 50 bills have been passed, special conventions have been held and the work of lawmaking and development has been hampered due to the state of national politics. Expressing the feeling that the essence and spirit of the constitution could not be assimilated due to the weak representation of women in the parliamentary committees and the cabinet, she said that it was felt that the responsibility of running the assembly rested with the deputy speaker.
Pushpa Gharti of Karnali Pradesh said that she felt that the post of Deputy Speaker was like
‘love is indispensable’. She said, ”In line with the spirit and letter of the constitution, it should be ensured that at least three of the seven states will have a female speaker in the coming days.”
Far-Western Deputy Speaker Nirmala Badal informed that two ministers, three ministers of
state, and two committee chairpersons are being led by women in the state government. She said, ”Even though the state assembly has formulated 41 acts in four years, it has not been able to formulate laws related to public interest due to some technical reasons. The development work has been affected due to lack of staff.”
Secretary to the Federal Parliament Secretary Sudarshan Khadka expressed confidence that the exchange of experiences would contribute to the strengthening of the federal democratic republican system of governance, lawmaking, responsibility, and accountability to the people.
Constituent Assembly Member and Senior Advocate Khim Lal Devkota presented a working
paper on the constitutional, legal, national, and international system, experience, and practice of the Deputy Speaker.
He has suggested in the working paper to understand the Deputy Speaker and the Vice-
Chairman as leaders, to interpret them according to the rules, and to make them accountable to the assembly. Other speakers on the occasion stressed the need for an environment to remove misconceptions as there is a danger of establishing the notion that there should always be women as assistants when the provision in the constitution that there should be a woman in one of the posts of Speaker and Deputy Speaker and Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson is not properly implemented.
By Karuna Thapa
