NC, UML engage in blame game over House obstruction

KATHMANDU: Central leaders of the main opposition Nepali Congress and the ruling CPN-UML have blamed each-other for the ongoing House obstruction.

Speaking at an interaction at the Reporters' Club in the Capital today, UML leader and Minister for Information and Communications Sherdhan Rai said the NC was responsible for delaying release of reconstruction grants to the earthquake survivors.

The procedure prepared by the erstwhile NC-led government had provisions to release the grant in four instalments, but the current government modified it to a three-instalment scheme so that the quake-hit could get the grants sooner, according to Rai, who is also the government spokesperson.

But, the government could not release the total grant worth Rs 200,000 at once going against the set procedure as demanded by the main opposition, he added.

Rai said the opposition should have let Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli speak at the House in response to their concerns yesterday.

Speaking at the same function, NC leader and lawmaker Arjun Narsingh KC, however, said the PM's response could not convince the opposition to end the obstruction.

"Though the procedure was set during the Congress-led government," KC said, "It should be amended immediately."

"The government must discuss the issue with the Congress," he warned, "Otherwise, the House obstruction would linger."