UML chief whip says PM must respond to his party lawmakers' concerns
KATHMANDU, JULY 9
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal held talks with CPN- UML Chair KP Sharma Oli and Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba in his bid to end the current deadlock in the Parliament created by the UML and other opposition parties over the PM's alleged remarks that Indian national Pritam Singh had gone to New Delhi several times to make him the PM at least once.
UML lawmakers are obstructing proceedings at both houses of Parliament demanding that the PM resign from his post. The ruling alliance has, however, thrown its weight behind the PM, saying the PM would face any question posed by the opposition parties in the Parliament.
Prime Minister Dahal's Press Adviser Govinda Acharya told THT that talks between the three leaders centred around ending the deadlock were positive and the three leaders would sit again before the House of Representatives' meeting tomorrow.
The HoR had scheduled its meeting today, but the speaker postponed it till 3:00pm tomorrow after PM Dahal sought to defer the meeting.
UML lawmakers continued obstruction in the Upper House today leading to postponement of House proceedings till 11.01am tomorrow.
Acharya said ending House deadlock was important to make policies and some urgent laws.
UML Chief Whip Padam Giri said that his party Chair Oli told the PM in the meeting that the UML was ready to end the House deadlock if the PM was ready to give satisfactory response to the concerns raised by his party lawmakers.
Giri said the PM must also give convincing reasons why his Press Adviser Govinda Acharya issued a press release deflecting blame on the UML for non-passage of the anti-usury ordinance replacement bill on July 5. The ordinance became ipso facto invalid as the HoR failed to pass in on the last day - (60th day).
"We have cited our reason for House obstruction and yet the PM's Press Adviser blames our party for non-passage of the anti-usury ordinance replacement bill," Giri said and added that the PM's remarks undermined the prestige and dignity of the country and the PM should apologise for his remarks and he should also assure the House that he will not repeat such mistakes.
Giri also said his party lawmakers would continue to stall House proceedings if the PM failed to furnish satisfactory explanation in the House.
Giri said his party lawmakers were eager to listen to the PM's clarification in the House, but the PM himself told the speaker to defer the House meeting till tomorrow.
Perhaps the PM wanted to consult his confidants before furnishing reply in the House.
The PM has said that his remarks about Pritam Singh were blown out of proportion and what he said recently were just the words of Pritam Singh.
A version of this article appears in the print on July 10, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
