KATHMANDU: Maoist Center Chief Whip Hitraj Pandey has reiterated that the opposition parties have not withdrawn their protest demands despite temporarily halting the obstruction in Parliament.
Speaking at a meeting organized by Speaker Devraj Ghimire with party chief whips, Pandey maintained that the demand for Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak’s resignation over the visit visa scandal remains firm.
“We lifted the obstruction yesterday (Thursday) in consideration of the country, the people, and unconstitutional activities. But our position has not changed. The issue involves human trafficking and corruption.”
“We are not stepping back without accountability. We will raise this in Parliament. Now, it’s up to the government,” Pandey said, warning that the temporary truce should not be misinterpreted as a shift in the opposition’s stance.
Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Chief Whip Santosh Pariyar also criticized the government for not taking the matter seriously, noting that the scandal has impacted ordinary citizens and is linked to human trafficking networks.
“They are downplaying the issue as part of regular procedure. But we raised our concerns out of responsibility. All opposition parties, including the RSP, are protesting. Parliament cannot proceed until our demands are addressed,” he said.
He clarified that the opposition continues to demand the home minister’s resignation, a formal response from the prime minister, and the formation of a high-level investigation commission.
Comment