KATHMANDU, AUGUST 20

An all-party meeting held to end obstruction of parliamentary proceedings failed to reach consensus as both the government and the main opposition party CPN-UML stuck to their guns.

The UML has been demanding that a high-level probe committee be formed to investigate the smuggling of 100 kg gold through Tribhuvan International Airport.

The government, however, says that a high-level probe committee is not necessary as the Central Investigation Bureau is investigating the issue.

CPN-UML Vic-chair Subas Chandra Nembang, who participated in the meeting said today's meeting was positive and they hoped they could reach a deal tomorrow when the top leaders of all the parties representing in the House of Representatives would meet to discuss the House obstruction.

Nembang said he told the meeting that a high level probe committee should be formed to investigate the gold smuggling racket, as the CIB might not muster courage to investigate high profile people. He said that the US had also formed a high-level probe commission in the aftermath of 9/11 terrorist attacks and nobody argued against the commission just because FBI also investigates such incidents.

UML Chief Whip Padam Giri said Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal had hinted that a high-level probe committee could be formed, but the government would have to ensure that such a committee did not interfere with the CIB investigation.

He said the HoR meeting was planned for Tuesday in anticipation that a deal could be reached tomorrow.

UML Chair KP Sharma Oli was not present in the meeting today.

PM Dahal wondered why Oli, who had demanded all-party meeting on the House impasse was not present today.

According to Rastriya Swatantra Party Chief Whip Santosh Pariyar, who was present in the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha said the CIB would submit its report on the gold smuggling case within the next 15 days and only after that report the parties could comment on the work of the CIB.

Shrestha also said that if any probe mechanism was formed before the CIB could submit its report, it could interfere with the CIB investigation.

Pariyar said that his party told the meeting that stalling parliamentary proceedings on just one issue of gold smuggling was not justified as the obstruction was preventing the House from discussing recent floods and landslides and people's worsening economic hardships. He said both the main opposition and the ruling parties needed to show flexibility to end the current House deadlock.

PM Dahal, Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, RSP Chair Rabi Lamichhane and Rastriya Prajatantra Party Chair Rajendra Lingden were present in the meeting.

A version of this article appears in the print on August 21, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.