Kathmandu, January 4:

The regular session of the Legislature-Parliament was put off with a notice after six small parties threatened to disrupt the House business unless the government withdrew the Scholarship (third amendment) Bill, 2065 tabled in the parliament.

Education Minister Renu Kumari Yadav had tabled the Bill following a cabinet nod to get it passed by the parliament before closing of the summer session of the parliament. This is

the second time that the House has been put off with a notice.

Fringe parties, particularly Dalit Janjati Party led by Bishwonath Paswan, raised objection to “reduced quota” of government scholarships for Dalit students.

The Bill has proposed to provide nine per cent scholarship to Dalit students. Paswan said the scholarship quota should be available to the Dalit students in proportion to its population.

Earlier today, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal had a meeting with the agitating parties — Dalit Janjati Party, Chure Bhabar Ekta Party Nepal, Nepal Sadbhavana Party (Anandi Devi), Federal Democratic National Front, Nepali Janta Dal and two independent CA members — at his residence in Baluwatar.

The PM had asked them to come up with an amendment proposal to the Bill if they deemed it amendable. NSP CA member Sarita Giri, in a statement, said that the Bill was “unclear” and was “not based on any set principle”.

Chure Bhabar leader Keshav Mainali said people of hill origin living in Tarai should also be given reservation in government scholarship because they are in minority in the region. Speaker Subas Chandra Nembang put off the parliamentary session till tomorrow.

Parliamentary businesses have been paralysed due to the boycott by Nepali Congress over its nine-point demand since December 18. PM was supposed to address the House on the nine-point demand of the NC following an understanding with the main opposition.