KATHMANDU: The Parliament meeting began after 1 pm today, around 2 hours late than the scheduled time.

As soon as the meeting began, Nepali Congress Vice-President Ram Chandra Paudel asked time with the Speaker to draw attention of the government toward the current political crisis after promulgation of the new Constitution and formulation of the new government.

Acting President of the main opposition party, Paduel urged the House to begin discussions on the Constitution Amendment Bill and the Bill on National Reconstruction Authority, which the then Nepali Congress-led government had registered at the House.

The Constitution Amendment Bill can address demands of the agitating Madhes-based parties, he reasoned.

Meanwhile, Paudel also condemned the government's move to dismiss political appointments made by the earlier government.

Just few days ago, the government had decided to cancel nomination of senior advocate Ram Prasad Sitaula to the membership of the Judicial Council.

Arguing that the government is a permanent institution, he said the current KP Sharma Oli-led government should have forwarded the decisions taken by the then Sushil Koirala-led government.

Paudel also warned the government not to terminate the previous government's decision to appoint Govinda Raj Pokharel, the then Vice-Chairman to the National Planning Commission, as Chief Executive Officer of the National Reconstruction Authority.

Pandey opposes Paudel

Taking part in the discussion after Paudel, CPN-UML lawmaker Rajendra Prasad Pandey argued that the Constitution Amendment Bill registered by the NC-led government should not be moved ahead as the then government had failed to forge consensus on the Bill among the ruling coalition then.

A new Bill has to be registered also incorporating views of the protesting Madhes-based parties, he demanded.

Rai demands rigorous talks

Lawmakers of the other parties including Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal's Sushil Kumar Shrestha and Federal Socialist Forum-Nepal's Ashok Kumar Rai had taken part in the discussion.

Rai, parliamentary party leader of one of the major constituents of the agitating United Democratic Madhesi Front, urged the government to engage in rigorous talks with the protesting parties to address their demands.

He also accused the government of not paying serious attention to demands of the protesting parties.

Rai, then, announced that constituents of the United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) would not led the House proceed with its business till its demands were met.

After Rai's announcement, lawmakers of the UDMF constituents obstructed the Parliament proceedings.