Opposition parties meet to discuss RSP’s five-point proposal submitted to Nepali Congress

KATHMANDU: Opposition parties have begun a joint meeting at the Federal Parliament Building in New Baneshwar to discuss the five-point proposal put forward by the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) to the Nepali Congress aimed at ending the parliamentary deadlock.

The meeting includes leaders from several opposition parties including Barsa Man Pun and Hitraj Pandey from the CPN (Maoist Centre), Santosh Pariyar from RSP, Rajendra Pandey from CPN (Unified Socialist), and Prabhu Sah from the Aam Janata Party.

The RSP had submitted its proposal to the Nepali Congress on June 9 as a condition for resuming the stalled House of Representatives proceedings.

The RSP’s five-point proposal:

1. Non-Interference in CIAA Investigations: The government must fully cooperate with and not interfere in the ongoing investigation by the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) into alleged corruption at the Tribhuvan International Airport Immigration Office.
2. Formation of a High-Level Probe Committee: Within five days, a high-level investigation committee should be formed to thoroughly investigate the human trafficking and organized crime activities that took place under the guise of visit visas in recent years. The probe should include possible involvement of government bodies, travel agencies, manpower companies, airlines, and domestic and foreign missions. The committee will also act as a legislative oversight group, comprising members from across parties to monitor government commitments.
3. Formation of an Implementation Committee: Within one day, a working committee should be formed to define the terms of reference, structure, management, and powers of the probe committee. This committee must finalize the investigation mechanism within five days.
4. Focus of Investigation: The committee’s work should be transparent, evidence-based, and timely. It should focus on:
   • 1: Identifying and analyzing policy and systemic loopholes related to visit visas, labor permits, and immigration systems.
   • 2: Investigating illegal networks involved in human trafficking and organized crime.
   • 3: Recommending administrative and judicial reforms for victim protection and rehabilitation.
   • 4: Proposing improvements for inter-agency coordination and collaboration.
   • 5: Holding political and administrative actors accountable, including a recommendation on whether the Home Minister should resign.
5. Transparency and Public Disclosure: The formation, investigation process, and final report of the committee must maintain high standards of transparency. The proposal emphasizes restoring public trust through good governance, accountability, and strong judicial procedures. It calls for collaborative action from all branches of the state on such sensitive issues.

The ongoing discussion among opposition leaders is expected to determine whether a unified stance will be adopted in support of this proposal, which could lead to resumption of the obstructed parliamentary sessions.