KATHMANDU: Shram Sanskriti Party has expressed concerns over national security, nationalism, and the government’s working style.
Speaking at Tuesday’s meeting of the House of Representatives, lawmaker Harkaraj Rai said that no armed force other than the Nepali Army should be acceptable in the country.

Rai objected to what he described as a growing trend of forming groups using the word “army” and the government holding talks with such groups. Referring to the Hindu Samrat Sena, which has been discussed in connection with recent incidents in Sunsari and Madhes, he said, “Nepal has only one army, and that is the Nepali Army. Who has given permission to form armies in different places? The government should not negotiate with such groups; it should ban them.”

The lawmaker also told Parliament that when he traveled to Janakpur on Shrawan 5, 2083 BS, a group attempted to obstruct him and assaulted his aides. “Does a member of Parliament not have the right to move freely within his own country? What kind of rule of law is this?” he asked, adding that he had personally called the home minister demanding action.

Rai further expressed dissatisfaction that a statement made in Parliament by Prime Minister Balendra Shah, in which he reportedly said that Nepal had also encroached on Indian territory, had not yet been removed from the parliamentary record. He urged that the statement be corrected immediately. He also accused the government of reacting only after incidents occur rather than taking preventive measures in advance.