Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) lawmaker Dr Amaresh Kumar Singh has said that not all traditions should be dismantled in the name of breaking convention.
Singh made the remarks after finding Minister for Finance Dr Swarnim Wagle absent in a discussion on the priorities and principles of the Appropriation Bill in the House of Representatives on Tuesday. “In my 20 years in parliament, this is the first time that I am seeing debate on budget allocations continuing without the finance minister. What kind of tradition are we beginning? Change does not mean tearing everything apart,” Singh said. “You cannot break every tradition in the name of change. There is an established system that the finance minister must remain present during discussions on the priorities of the Appropriation Bill.
Singh said the relevance of parliament would diminish if all parliamentary traditions were ignored. “I am serving my fifth term as a lawmaker. If we continue to dismantle every tradition, the relevance of this parliament will end. The relevance of the parliamentary system itself will end,” he said. “Our country and constitution have adopted a parliamentary system where all parliamentarians are equal. Questions are directed to the government, and lawmakers present the concerns of the people before the government.”
Accusing the government of neglecting Madhesh in the bill, Singh claimed the region was in an “explosive” situation. “I found nothing for Madhesh in the Appropriation Bill. Even the word ‘Hulaki’ has not been mentioned for the Hulaki Highway project that dates back to the Rana era,” he said. “Even after more than a century, the Hulaki Highway remains incomplete, while two highways — the Mid-Hill Highway and the Madan Bhandari Highway — were built rapidly to counter Madhesh.”
Singh warned the government that Madhesh was heading towards unrest. “Madhesh also has ownership over this government because it gave the highest number of votes. But I want to warn the government that Madhesh is in an explosive state. I returned from Madhesh only yesterday, and we should address the issue before it erupts,” he said.
Singh also stressed the need for the government to prioritise Chure conservation to address the acute drinking water crisis in Madhesh.
He said he could not support the Appropriation Bill in its current form. “I cannot accept this Appropriation Bill. I may be a ruling party lawmaker, but I am looking at the faces of the people,” Singh said.
