Kathmandu- The discussion held by Speaker Devraj Ghimire with the top leaders of the four main parties including the Prime Minister on the issue of removing the obstruction of the Parliament has come to a conclusion. In that meeting, the main opposition Nepali Congress maintained the stand of the Parliamentary Inquiry Committee against Home Minister Ravi Lamichhane, so the discussion was without conclusion.

Speaking to the media after the meeting, Chief Whip of the Congress, Ramesh Akhtar commented that although they have not obstructed the Parliament and have made demands in good faith, the government is being presented in an irresponsible manner. It was his statement that they would not back down from the demand for an investigation against Home Minister Lamichhane. The author has also warned that the government should take responsibility if the parliamentary proceedings are disrupted.

He said, “We kept our word as it is.” Millions of Nepali citizens’ money has been saved in cooperatives. There has been embezzlement and fraud in the co-operatives of the country. The incumbent minister is involved in this. So far, we have presented our demands in a friendly manner. We have not obstructed the parliament. However, the government is being presented in an irresponsible manner. The government has not been sensitive to the citizens’ grievances. The minimum demand of the parliamentary committee was not heard. Now if the meeting and work of the Parliament is interrupted. The government should take responsibility for that.

On the other hand, UML chief whip Mahesh Bertaula has commented that the demand of Congress is motivated by political bias. He said that they have requested the Congress to facilitate the meeting. “When an important bill is being discussed, demands without facts and evidence have been raised due to political bias. If we continue to form parliamentary committees on such light issues, we will not be able to sit properly. We asked them to reconsider the demand. A committee cannot be formed in the House on matters that are not supported by facts and evidence. The regular process of tomorrow’s parliament will go ahead”, claimed Bertaula.

Similarly, after the meeting, Maoist chief whip Hitraj Pandey said that the demand of Congress cannot be accepted. Santosh Pariyar, chief whip of RSVP, said that the meeting did not move towards consensus even though the speaker took the initiative. “It is a crooked trick that we need a committee based on false allegations,” he commented.