House will proceed ahead enhancing people’s hope and confidence: Speaker Sapkota

Newly-elected Speaker of the House of Representatives, Agni Prasad Sapkota, has said he would proceed ahead the works and activities of the House in a way to increase people’s hopes and confidence.

Talking in brief to the journalists after assuming office at the Speaker’s Office in Singha Durbar immediately after taking oath of the Speaker from the President, he said the House would be run in a lively manner.

"I will steer ahead the House so that the people will get to feel that the representatives they have elected and sent to the parliament have discussed issues through democratic path," he said, adding that some bills remained to be certified and he would expedite the process of endorsing the bills which have been prioritized.

According to him, his full attention was now focused on parliament after his election to the post of Speaker.

Speaker Sapkota stressed that the resolution proposal, the proposals of public importance as well as the bills registered in the House would be forwarded by setting the priority.

Asked about how he planned to move ahead the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) compact with the USA, he said a discussion has been initiated in Nepali society whether or not to take the assistance under this agreement. He added that a decision on this matter would be taken on the basis of the conclusion drawn from the debate. "I will move ahead regarding MCC by incorporating the aspiration of all the lawmakers," he said.

Protests do take place in democracy

Regarding the opposition on his election to the post of Speaker, Sapkota said he took this as normal as all were free to express their protest in democracy. It may be recalled here that some people and human rights activists had opposed the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP)’s nomination of Sapkota for the post, citing he has a pending court case against him dating back to the conflict period.

Speaker Sapkota said some cases against him are under consideration in law court and it would not be proper to think much about these issues. "It would not be mature to speak about this topic. Some issues have come up and they will be resolved," he said, urging journalists not to goad him on this topic.

Immediately after assuming his office, Sapkota approved a bill to be presented in the parliament.

Secretary-General of the Federal Parliament Secretariat, Manohar Prasad Bhattarai among the parliament employees welcomed Sapkota in his office.