KATHMANDU: Uncertainty surrounds the scheduled meeting of the House of Representatives (HoR) as the opposition intensifies its demand for Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak’s resignation in connection with the escalating visit visa scandal.
Persistent disagreements between ruling and opposition parties have paralyzed parliamentary proceedings, resulting in multiple adjournments without any legislative progress.
On Thursday, opposition lawmakers disrupted the House session with chants and protests, insisting that Minister Lekhak step down, holding him morally accountable for the controversy surrounding irregularities in the issuance of visit visas.
Although the session was initially set for 1 PM and later postponed to 5:30 PM in an effort to reach consensus, Speaker Devraj Ghimire was ultimately forced to cancel the meeting entirely, clearing the day’s agenda and announcing a fresh sitting for Friday at 1 PM.
As the House convened, opposition MPs immediately resumed their protests, making it impossible to proceed with any business.
Speaker Ghimire attempted to restore order by proposing time for party-based statements, but the resistance persisted. The opposition bloc remains firm in its stance that Lekhak must resign before further proceedings can resume.
Meanwhile, the ruling coalition—led by the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML—has defended the embattled minister, insisting that he should be allowed to address the allegations in Parliament before any decision is made.
The deadlock signals a deeper political standoff that may continue to hinder legislative functions unless a breakthrough is achieved.
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