KATHMANDU: Opposition parties disrupted Tuesday’s session of the House of Representatives, demanding the resignation of Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, who is under scrutiny over the recent visit visa scandal. The session was adjourned for 30 minutes amid chants and protest from opposition lawmakers.
Leading the disruption were lawmakers from the CPN (Maoist Centre), Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), and Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), who declared that the House proceedings cannot continue until Lekhak steps down.
The protest intensified after Maoist Centre’s Deputy General Secretary Barsaman Pun and RSP’s Shisir Khanal took the floor, both asserting the Home Minister’s resignation as a non-negotiable condition for the Parliament to function, especially with the national budget presentation approaching.
Speaker Devraj Ghimire allowed Nepali Congress Chief Whip Shyam Ghimire to speak from the ruling side, but opposition lawmakers shouted slogans demanding Lekhak’s resignation, forcing the Speaker to pause the meeting for half an hour.
Pun claimed the visa scandal involves billions in corruption and political collusion, pointing out that key accused Tirtharaj Bhattarai was reportedly appointed to the Tribhuvan International Airport immigration office with the direct involvement of the Home Minister.
“Why was a controversial official with a history of irregularities placed in a sensitive position? Was it due to merit, or hidden interests?” Pun questioned.
He urged Lekhak to step down immediately to ensure a fair investigation, reminding the House that Lekhak, while in opposition, had himself demanded ministerial resignations on ethical grounds.
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