KATHMANDU: Lawmakers from the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) and Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) once again walked out of the House of Representatives today, continuing their weeks-long protest over the government’s inaction on issues surrounding visit visas and recent controversies involving parliamentary leadership.
Speaking during the zero hour, RSP spokesperson and MP Manish Jha questioned the government’s seriousness in resolving the problems created by the visit visa scandal. He also reiterated his party’s demand for a parliamentary probe committee and called for the resignation of State Affairs and Good Governance Committee Chair Ramhari Khatiwada, citing moral and procedural irregularities linked to the cooling-off period issue.
“We were repeatedly asked moral questions in the past. Now that ethical questions have arisen around the committee chair, who will take responsibility for this misconduct?” Jha asked during his address, before walking out of the chamber.
RPP lawmaker Roshan Karki echoed Jha’s frustration, criticizing Speaker Devraj Ghimire for allowing House proceedings to continue while the opposition parties were still in protest.
“When we are on the streets protesting, why is the House running as if nothing is wrong?” she asked. “Is the government accountable to parliament or is parliament accountable to the government?”
RSP and RPP lawmakers have been boycotting regular proceedings of the House since mid-June, demanding accountability over the visit visa scandal and stronger oversight of executive decisions.
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