KATHMANDU: Opposition lawmakers have objected to what they describe as government interference in constitutional bodies, demanding clarification over recent developments involving constitutional office-bearers.
Raising their concerns at the start of Thursday’s House of Representatives meeting, opposition members also reiterated their demand that the Prime Minister’s remarks on border-related issues be removed from the parliamentary record.
Following the protest, Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal allowed lawmaker Narendra Kumar Kerung to address the House.
Kerung questioned reports that constitutional office-bearers had been summoned to the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers and allegedly threatened with interrogation, detention, or arrest. He called on the government to provide clarification and urged the Prime Minister to clearly state his position on the border issue.
Similarly, UML lawmaker Laxmi Prasad Pokharel said the Prime Minister’s statement and what he described as threatening language used by the Finance Minister would not serve the government well. He also objected to actions that he claimed were intimidating and disrespecting civil servants.
Likewise, NCP lawmaker Ramesh Malla warned that the government’s recent actions could create difficulties for the country. He described reports of constitutional body chiefs being called in for questioning and subjected to possible disciplinary action as serious matters warranting investigation.
Opposition lawmakers said their protests would continue until their concerns are addressed and their demands met.
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