KATHMANDU: The government is currently grappling with a parliamentary deadlock.
The main opposition party, Nepali Congress, along with other opposition parties, has been continuously obstructing parliament meetings, demanding the formation of a parliamentary probe committee to investigate Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane’s alleged involvement in a cooperative fraud case.
The government and the opposition have agreed to form a probe committee and established a task force to prepare the Terms of Reference (TOR) for the Parliamentary Investigation Committee.
However, the task force has failed to reach a conclusion due to disagreements on jurisdiction.
Meanwhile, there is a constitutional obligation for the government to introduce the budget on May 28.
On May 20, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal forcefully sought a vote of confidence amid protests and obstructions from the opposition parties.
With the main opposition party reluctant to let parliament function smoothly, the government appears to have three options for introducing the budget:
Lift the parliamentary deadlock by forging a consensus with the opposition party. This would require forming a parliamentary probe committee to investigate the Home Minister’s involvement in the cooperative fraud case.
Introduce the budget forcefully, similar to how the Prime Minister sought his vote of confidence.
End the house session and introduce the budget via an ordinance.
When asked about the government’s strategy moving forward, Law Minister Padam Giri told Khabarhub that the government is currently trying to forge a consensus with the opposition party.
“However, if an agreement is not reached, the government will have to find alternatives for sure,” said Minister Giri.
Similarly, Labor Minister DP Aryal confirmed that the government has various alternatives at its disposal.
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