Kathmandu, June 30

Nepali Congress today demanded a reply from Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli in the Parliament regarding the ‘anti-constitution’ activities of two Deputy Prime Ministers – Kamal Thapa and Chitra Bahadur KC.

NC Whip Ishwari Neupane, speaking at today’s House meeting, said that the two ministers were campaigning against the republican system and federalism with their statements and actions.

She demanded that the PM reply why he had remained silent when the two responsible ministers were involved in irresponsible activities against the republican system and federalism. “Since the DPMs are engaged in anti-constitutional activities, how can we believe that this government will implement the constitution? The PM should reply stating why he is silent on this,” she said.

CPN Maoist Centre’s lawmakers Janak Raj Joshi and Shyam Shrestha demanded that a parliamentary panel be formed to resolve the long-standing problem of House boycott by Madhes-based parties.

Stating that the Parliament regulations did not mention any provision about the boycott, Joshi said the solution to the concerns of Madhes-based parties should be sought from within the parliament.

“A parliamentary panel headed by the Speaker and members of various parties should be formed to resolve the problem. If possible, some facilitators from outside the Parliament can be inducted in the panel,” Joshi said.

Shrestha said since the talks among parties was not giving any solution, the process of constitution implementation should be moved ahead by following the democratic process and a solution should be sought by forming a parliamentary panel.

As the talks being held by the government are not yielding solution, the situation of continuous agitation might hinder the elections of local bodies announced by the government, he said.

Anuradha Thapa Magar of Nepal Workers and Peasants’ Party urged the government to file lawsuits against manpower companies that were involved in selling Nepali youths in foreign countries illegally in the name of employment. Cases should be moved ahead against the operators of those manpower companies that had arranged to send Nepali workers to Afghanistan.

Discussions on Appropriation Bill continued today. Budget allocations of seven ministries including — Peace and Reconstruction, Home Affairs, Forest and Soil Conservation, Education, Labour and Employment, Water Supply and Sanitation and Finance — were discussed today. The House is scheduled to continue discussions till July 5.

The concerned ministers will reply to the concerns raised till July 8 and the House is scheduled to pass the budget on the same day.

Meanwhile, Madhes-based parties continued boycotting today’s House meeting stating that the government was ignoring their concerns. They have been boycotting almost all meetings since the Constituent Assembly promulgated the new constitution on September 20.

Meanwhile, the House today inducted eight more members to the committee formed to probe budget leakage before Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel presented the fiscal budget 2016/017 on March 28 at the House.