KATHMANDU: The main opposition Nepali Congress lawmakers today obstructed the Lower House of the Federal Parliament as Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli stepped up to address various issues including the Guthi (Trust) Bill.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli greeting fellow lawmakers while walking to the rostrum to deliver a speech on the Guthi Bill at the House of Representatives, in Kathmandu, on Tuesday, June 18, 2019. Photo: Skanda Gautam /THT

Although Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli had prepared to address the issue of Guthi Bill, among other issues in the parliament today, NC lawmakers resorted to protest demanding that parliamentary party leader and president of the main opposition, Sher Bahadur Deuba, should be allowed to address the meeting first.

Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara repeatedly appealed to NC lawmakers to let the Prime Minister call on the meeting. However, the opposition lawmakers stood up in protest and chanted slogans demanding maintenance of parliamentary decorum. Subsequently, the speaker adjourned the meeting till 11:00 am tomorrow.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli tweeted about the obstruction in the HOR meeting:

प्रतिपक्षी नेकॉले

रोष्ट्रम घेरी अबरोध गरेका कारण

मैले हालैको युरोप भ्रमण र

गुठी बिधेयक लगायतका समसायिक बिषयहरूमा

रहेको जनचासोका सन्दर्भमा

सम्मानीत सदनलाई आज जानकारी गराउन पाईन।

यस घटनाबाट म दु:खी भएको छु।

— K P Sharma Oli (@kpsharmaoli) June 18, 2019

Meanwhile, Nepali Congress has been arguing that the Guthi Bill registered in the Upper House is against the culture and tradition of Nepali people. Various stakeholders and guthi operators have been carrying out protests against the bill calling for its withdrawal.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli greeting fellow lawmakers while walking to the rostrum to deliver a speech on the Guthi Bill at the House of Representatives, in Kathmandu, on Tuesday, June 18, 2019. Photo: Skanda Gautam /THT