KATHMANDU: The tension between the ruling parties and the main opposition Nepali Congress (NC) has escalated, primarily due to the latter’s demand for a parliamentary committee to investigate Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane’s alleged involvement in a cooperative fraud case.
The scuffle intensified during the House of Representatives meeting on Thursday.
The Nepali Congress, which has been calling for an inquiry into Home Minister Lamichhane, clashed with the ruling party over the matter.
A confrontation erupted when Speaker of the House Devraj Ghimire gave Minister Lamichhane the floor to speak.
This prompted Nepali Congress members to raise slogans and move towards the well of the Parliament, demanding the formation of the investigative committee.
Amidst the chaos, when Nepali Congress MPs approached Deputy Speaker Indira Ranamagar’s seat, CPN-UML Chairman KP Oli intervened, instructing them not to encroach upon the ruling party’s space.
RSP MP Manish Jha stated that the committee would only be formed if Congress agreed to investigate the properties of Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba and his family.
This led to a heated exchange with Nepali Congress Vice President and lawmaker Dhanraj Gurung, which further escalated the situation.
Speaker Ghimire then adjourned the session, asking Minister Lamichhane to sit down.
Post adjournment, both sides have traded accusations over the incident.
The ruling party held a press conference at the Federal Parliament premises, blaming the Nepali Congress for the disruption.
In contrast, Nepali Congress General Secretary Gagan Thapa held Speaker Devraj Ghimire responsible for Thursday’s events.
“The Honorable Speaker should take the main responsibility for the incident in the Parliament. He created an unpleasant and unexpected situation by forcing items into the agenda,” Thapa stated.
Thapa expressed concern over Speaker Ghimire’s perceived allegiance to CPN-UML Chairman KP Oli, stating, “It is sad that the Speaker is acting as a leader’s order bearer. We hope this will not continue.”
The Nepali Congress has also urged Ghimire to fulfill his duties responsibly.
“We want to alert the Honorable Speaker to discharge his role responsibly,” said General Minister Thapa.
Thapa further criticized the ruling party for fostering a confrontational environment, and noted that Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda had issued a notice to postpone Thursday’s meeting.
Nepali Congress spokesperson Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat remarked on the unfortunate alignment of Speaker Ghimire with party leadership, particularly when the Nepali Congress was demanding a parliamentary committee to investigate a cooperative fraud case.
Despite Congress’s objections, the Speaker allowed Home Minister Lamichhane, an accused party, to speak.
“Once the opposition arrived in the well, the meeting should not have proceeded. However, the Speaker, directed by party leaders, forcibly conducted the meeting,” Mahat said.
“This represents an unprecedented violation of parliamentary law, with the Speaker acting under party direction.”
Conversely, coalition parties accused the opposition Nepali Congress of irresponsible conduct.
Information and Communication Technology Minister Rekha Sharma, also the government spokesperson, blamed Nepali Congress for disrupting parliamentary proceedings and preventing the Home Minister from addressing questions.
“The opposition acted irresponsibly, pushing the Home Minister in parliament and leaving their row to join the government’s row,” she said.
UML chief whip Mahesh Bartaula criticized Congress MPs for disrespecting Chairman Oli, accusing them of obstructing parliamentary proceedings and sitting in the Deputy Speaker’s chair.
“Nepali Congress displayed grossly undemocratic and unparliamentary behavior in Thursday’s parliament,” Bartaula said.
The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) announced that it will not support the formation of a parliamentary inquiry committee due to Congress’s behavior.
RSP MP Manish Jha stated that the committee would only be formed if Congress agreed to investigate the properties of Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba and his family.
“We are ready to leave politics if the cooperative fraud case against our Chairman Rabi Lamichhane is confirmed. Nepali Congress must show the same courage by allowing investigations into their party president,” Jha asserted.
“If Congress can investigate their president and his family, we challenge them to do so.”
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