MP Vayak Highlights Gas Shortage Crisis and Calls for Action on Flooding Victims

Kathmandu. Nepali Communist Party MP Prem Bahadur Vayak has drawn the government's serious attention to the problems faced by citizens due to gas shortage. Speaking in the meeting of the House of Representatives on Thursday, he mentioned the incident where a young man attempted suicide after being unable to cook for his postpartum wife due to lack of gas, and stated that the government should take moral responsibility for it. He said that in Kathmandu and various other places, students and general citizens have to call MPs for help due to the inability to get cooking gas. He questioned the shortcomings and negligence in the supply management and demanded that the government solve the problem immediately. He questioned how long the situation of standing in line for gas, carrying cylinders in the rain, would continue. Speaking in parliament, MP Vayak said, 'Is it the moral responsibility of the concerned minister and the government or not that a situation has arisen where one cannot even cook for his postpartum wife due to gas shortage?' Questioning the working style of the Ministry of Supply, he added, 'The situation where students and general citizens living in rented rooms in places like Kathmandu have to call MPs today because they cannot get gas is due to the negligence and weakness of the supply minister.' Speaking about the suffering of the citizens, he said, 'Government, how long will students and general citizens have to stand in line hungry, carrying cylinders in the rain?' He also said that public disappointment is growing towards the government formed on the basis of the Janjagruti movement. He accused those who were protesting yesterday saying 'Let us speak, government' of starting to use threatening language towards those who raise questions after reaching the government. He opined that the right to freedom of expression guaranteed by the constitution should be equal for all citizens, not based on any specific individual. Expressing objection to the government's attitude, he said, 'Yesterday, those who said 'Let us speak, government' are themselves leading the government today. Today, representatives of the government have been heard using threatening language from the assembly towards those who ask questions. No false statement or threat will stand before the people.' Speaking about freedom of expression, he added, 'Beware, the right to freedom of expression provided by the constitution was not made looking at the face of any specific person. It existed yesterday, it exists today, and it will remain tomorrow.' He also demanded that the government expedite the search and rescue operations for the 34 people from Kailali who went missing from Dam No. 216 of Mailung Khola Hydropower in various places in Kailali during the devastating flood in Bhote Koshi, Rasuwa.