Rabi Lamichhane's Address to the House of Representatives: A Commitment to Reform and Accountability

As the chairman of the ruling party, it is no longer enough for us to just speak. Not only I, but every honorable member of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) must prove themselves, the party, and the government through our actions. From now on, rather than us speaking well, our actions will speak for themselves.

Mr. Speaker, we do not need the luxury of a 'honeymoon period' of one hundred days. We want to work not by counting days, but by counting seconds, and we have already begun.

You are witnessing the pace of the government. Now, the entire country, including the bureaucracy, has no choice but to match this speed. We have come prepared to take ownership not only of our own election commitments but also those of the opposition parties, provided they are legitimate. I would like to inform this honorable House that the government's priorities, plans, and direction will be presented by the honorable Prime Minister through actions, speaking when necessary and working silently when not.

Mr. Speaker, it is not as if governments with a majority have not been formed in this honorable Parliament before. However, those governments became mere numbers in history; they could not become tools to change history. Where were the weaknesses in perspective, transparency, and accountability? Why could opportunities not be turned into results? We will not be ashamed to learn from history. If the trust the people have given us now is written off as another 'lost opportunity,' we will be disgraced, which is unacceptable to us.

We have come here having asked questions. Our seats may have changed, but our moral responsibility toward those questions remains the same. We must prove that we know not only how to ask questions but also how to provide answers; not only how to point out problems but also how to find solutions. I humbly request the opposition parties to monitor us twenty-four hours a day. Point out our mistakes, and if we lose our way, correct us. If we try to distance ourselves from the people, remind us of the people's voice. May no arrogance grow within us.

In a democracy, the ruling party and the opposition are not just competitors but also complements to each other. One works, the other monitors. We will not let the voice of the opposition weaken, because if the opposition is weak, democracy is weak. This Parliament will be a place for debate, not revenge. I would like to inform you that the wrong practices of the past, such as amending laws or bringing ordinances to protect one's own and frame the opposition, will be corrected as soon as possible. The first right to receive justice belongs to the mother of a martyr; that cannot be called revenge.

Ending the plight of youth abroad and middlemen:

The true creators of today's parliamentary mandate are our Nepali brothers and sisters working abroad. Until now, there has only been talk of the remittances you send, but today I am not talking about money, but about the personal price you have paid. You were separated from your families, lost the company of your parents, and missed the childhood of your young children. You lost the joy of festivals and the warmth of your villages. Today, from here, I accept with an apology—this country did not properly respect your sacrifices. Your pain will no longer just be a story; it will become a state priority.

I appeal to the Non-Resident Nepali brothers and sisters—let us do something in Nepal. You join in the economic development of Nepal, and we will fulfill the promise of 'Once a Nepali, Always a Nepali.'

Within the country, I want to fully reassure the private sector—we have already started improving the business environment that was spoiled by middlemen and mafias. Policies will no longer be sold in the market, and decisions will not be made under anyone's pressure. The insecurity, uncertainty, and pressure you have experienced in the business sector will end forever. Middlemen and labor mafias will now be subject to action. Our ambassadors going to the Gulf region will no longer be found at dinner tables with middlemen, but in labor camps.

• Historical Apology

I want to present a context today. My friend, Honorable Khagendra Sunar, has been elected and is here. During the election campaign, when a controversy arose regarding him, I do not know if a mistake was made or not, but he apologized. Today, I want to say to the whole country from this entire House—regardless of whether a mistake was made or not, Khagendra Sunar apologized when there was ambiguity. But have we apologized today for the injustice meted out to the likes of Khagendra Sunar for ages?

I have something to say to the Dalit community of this country with a public apology today. This government is apologizing collectively and publicly for the first time for the history of centuries of discrimination, injustice, and oppression, and that too from this very House. The discrimination until today was not a social mistake; it was an organized crime. We considered those who had skills in their hands as untouchable. Now, no Nepali will have to bow down in the name of caste. I apologize on behalf of the entire party and the government, and I want to ensure that the price of this apology will now be paid by justice.

Similarly, I also want to say something to our mothers and sisters. In this country, you bore the most responsibility but received the fewest opportunities. You managed the home, saved the family, and ran society, but it was not considered work. Opportunities for women will now be a right, not a favor. We will ensure equal access to education and employment, meaningful representation at every level of the state, and zero tolerance for violence against women. No daughter will have to make her dreams small anymore.

Mr. Speaker, no matter which party we are elected from, we represent the people. Therefore, our goal must be one—the prosperity of the country, improvement in the lives of the people, and the construction of a just society. I believe this will be a symbol of cooperation, accountability, and change. Thank you!

Address by Rabi Lamichhane, Chairman of the ruling party RSP, in the House of Representatives meeting