KATHMANDU, AUGUST 7

Top leaders of the big three parties - Nepali Congress, CPN-Maoist Centre, CPN-UML -and Speaker Devraj Ghimire held talks to end House obstruction but failed to reach conclusion as the UML, which has been stalling parliamentary proceedings, since July 26, remained adamant about forming a high-level probe committee to investigate the one quintal gold smuggling racket.

The ruling parties want the Central Investigation Bureau to investigate the gold smuggling case and not a high-level probe committee.

CPN-MC leader Barshman Pun told mediapersons at the Parliament building that the UML's obstruction in the House was not justified because the UML and all forces must have trust in government bodies.

He said the CIB, which was the right body to probe the case, would investigate all issues.

As parties failed to reach a deal today to end House obstruction, the Parliament Secretariat postponed the House meeting till 3:00pm tomorrow.

UML lawmaker Raghu Panta told mediapersons at the Parliament building that the government's decision to hand over the responsibility of probing the gold smuggling racket to Central Investigation Bureau was a positive step, but there was no harm in forming a parallel high-level probe committee to investigate the matter. Panta said that the high-level probe committee would make policy recommendation to curb gold smuggling. He said without strong recommendation by a probe committee, gold smuggling would recur because political leaders were allegedly involved in smuggling.

Another UML leader Yogesh Bhattarai said that the gold in question was smuggled with the connivance of the police and revenue department and customs' staff were unable to check it.

Nepali Congress General Secretary Bishwa Prakash Sharma who is also a House of Representatives member said House obstruction was not the solution to all problems and the main opposition should not stall House proceedings. 'We, the ruling parties' lawmakers also want to question the government on the gold smuggling case, but due to house obstruction no lawmaker can seek answers from the government,' he said and added that all problems must be resolved in the Parliament and for that House proceedings must not be obstructed.

UML Whip in the HoR Mahesh Kumar Bartaula said that the three parties' meeting was positive but they decided to sit for dialogue at 10:00am again. He said the PM sought time to consult the Attorney General on the UML demand to form high level probe committee.

Bartaula said that his party Chair justified the need for a high-level probe committee to investigate the gold smuggling case.

'We want the government to commit to form the high-level probe committee. The government does not have to form it immediately, yet the PM was not ready to form the high-level probe committee,' Bartaula added.

Meanwhile, the Chair of Rastriya Swatantra Party Rabi Lamichhane expressed frustration over the house deadlock. He wrote on his Facebook wall: We now understand how the country has been paralysed over the years. Many laws need to be enacted and many laws need to be amended. Many issues of public concern have to be discussed and decided. It is unfortunate that Parliament remains stalled and bargaining is occurring.

A version of this article appears in the print on August 8, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.