KATHMANDU: Top leaders of the main opposition party, Nepali Congress (NC), have returned to the Prime Minister’s official residence in Baluwatar to seek an agreement on forming a parliamentary investigation committee into the cooperative fraud case.
After a morning meeting ended without resolution, the NC leaders held internal discussions and then went back to Baluwatar.
The NC delegation includes Vice President Purna Bahadur Khadka, General Secretary Gagan Thapa, Joint General Secretary Jeevan Pariyar, and leaders Krishna Prasad Sitaula and Gyanendra Bahadur Karki.
The leaders attended a morning meeting at the invitation of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’.
The meeting also included Law Minister Padam Giri and Chief Whip Mahesh Bartaula from the UML, Finance Minister Barshaman Pun and Chief Whip Hit Raj Pandey from the Maoist Center, and Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane, Vice President Dr. Swarnim Wagle, and Chief Whip Santosh Pariyar from Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP).
Prime Minister Dahal discussed with the opposition and ruling party leaders the efforts and challenges in forming a parliamentary committee.
NC Joint General Secretary and task force member Pariyar stated that the NC showed flexibility during the morning discussion but was met with resistance from coalition partners UML and RSP.
“We are trying to find a safe landing. Tomorrow is the budget presentation in Parliament, so we are moving forward with flexibility to reach a conclusion by this evening,” Pariyar said as he left Baluwatar this morning.
Pariyar mentioned that Prime Minister Prachanda assured them he would discuss the matter with ruling party leaders and reach a final decision by the evening.
“Prime Minister Dahal is taking opinions from both sides. He will present our views to the ruling parties and convey their feedback to us,” Pariyar added.
After failing to reach an agreement with the ruling parties, NC leaders held an internal meeting at President Sher Bahadur Deuba’s residence in Budhanilkantha.
Meanwhile, ruling party leaders held their internal discussions at Baluwatar.
UML Vice Chairman Bishnu Poudel, speaking after the meeting, demanded a written apology from the NC for the baseless allegations against UML Chairman KP Oli.
“The NC has been making politically motivated and biased accusations against our Chairman Oli. They must issue a written apology and publicly apologize,” Poudel stated.
Poudel also claimed that the NC was not sincere in seeking an agreement and warned that if NC does not retract its statements, UML will respond accordingly.
“Recent events indicate that NC is not in favor of any agreement. They are trying to disrupt national politics with inappropriate and prejudiced accusations. They need to retract such slander; otherwise, we will respond,” Poudel said.
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