Kathmandu, May 26

The main opposition party, CPN-UML, obstructed Parliament proceedings today as well, demanding that the government roll back its decision to add 22 local levels in Tarai districts and withdraw impeachment motion filed against Chief Justice Sushila Karki.

As soon as the House meeting began at 1:00pm, UML lawmakers rose from their chairs to obstruct the proceedings.  Following the obstruction, Speaker Onsari Gharti Magar adjourned the House till 4:00pm today.

She called a meeting of top leaders of the three major parties — Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and CPN-Maoist Centre — but her attempts to end House obstruction did not succeed. Only the second-rung leaders of the three parties were present in the meeting, according to her Press Adviser Babin Sharma. The Parliament met again at 4:00pm but UML lawmakers again rose from their chairs to obstruct House proceedings, following which the speaker adjourned the House till 1:00pm on Sunday.

UML has been obstructing House proceedings ever since the third session of the Parliament began, demanding that the government withdraw its decision to add 22 local levels in the Tarai, withdraw the impeachment motion filed against CJ Karki and revoke its decision to withdraw charges filed against those who face indictment for their alleged involvement in Kailali incident. The UML has also demanded that the government form a parliamentary panel to probe rigging in the first phase of local level elections.

The UML, however, did not obstruct House proceedings yesterday when President Bidhya Devi Bhandari unveiled government’s policy and programmes for the next fiscal. Deputy parliamentary party leader of UML Subas Chandra Nembang said UML lawmakers would continue to obstruct House proceedings unless the government met UML’s demands. The UML may obstruct House proceedings even when ruling coalition partners try to elect a new prime minister.