President Paudel to hold all party meeting on Sunday regarding HoR obstruction
KATHMANDU, AUGUST 18
While the country is grappling with floods, dengue and conjunctivitis, it has been more than three weeks that regular activities of Parliament have been disrupted.
After the ruling coalition rejected the demand of the main opposition CPN-UML to form a high-level probe committee to investigate the gold smuggling racket, the issue has turned into a battle for political prestige.
The fourth largest party in the Parliament sitting in the opposition bench, Rastriya Swatantra Party wants the Parliament to run smoothly, and is trying to find common ground and alternative measures to end the deadlock in the House of Representatives.
Rastriya Swatantra Party has 21 lawmakers including the deputy speaker of the HoR.
"We are all concerned that Parliament is the property of the sovereign people and when it is deadlocked, people's problems cannot be raised. Therefore, we have been constantly discussing ways to resolve the issue because neither ruling parties nor the opposition seem to be keen on opening the House," RSP Chief Whip Santosh Pariyar told THT. He said that on Wednesday, he had a long conversation with Speaker Devraj Ghimire.
Rabi Lamichhane, chairman of RSP, also discussed the issue with Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and the main opposition leader KP Sharma Oli. However, the conflict between the government and the opposition has prevented the issue from being resolved.
"In my view, rather than issues of the Parliament, they have other interests and political games. Hence, they have stopped the Parliament," Pariyar said and added, "Targeting Parliament they have been doing the politics they did in the past."
"When the Parliament is blocked for a long time, there is a danger of political vacuum and apathy towards the system itself. But now the situation is tight as the ruling party and the main opposition are sticking to their positions," he added. He said that they are looking for a 'common ground' to mitigate the challenge.
Pariyar further said, "Even if the agenda of the government does not progress, our efforts continue to ensure that the MPs an speak at the zero hour, emergency time and special time."
He said that before the next meeting of the House is scheduled for Sunday, 20 August, we have been making a mechanism to supervise the investigation in order to find a win-win situation.
"We have been telling the prime minister that since the government has the responsibility of providing the House with work, the government has a greater role to play," Pariyar said.
For the past few days, there have been reports that President Ramchandra Paudel is also discussing with the speaker and leaders to dismantle the obstruction of the Parliament.
"Perhaps, this Sunday morning the head of the state is going to hold an all party meeting regarding the current predicament of the House," he said.
On the other hand, Rastriya Prajatantra Party President Rajendra Lingden told THT, "we have already kept our demands and suggestions regarding resumption of the House. Therefore, I don't think it is necessary to submit written documents to the speaker."
He argued that due to big names figuring in scams such as Lalita Niwas Land Grab scam and the recent gold smuggling racket, the government is just seeking a way to settle the issue. However, the government is equally responsible for disturbing House activities.
"Three largest parties in the Parliament have hijacked it. Political parties have failed to win the confidence of the people. Hence, no single party has got majority. Hence, we must come together to overcome the challenges," he said.
He further said, "ruling parties are not letting Parliament activities run smoothly because these parties have formed a syndicate to control the Parliament. We are in the middle. I have already recommended the government to form the high level probe committee as it will make the system of investigation robust. However, they're not letting it happen and obstructing the HoR."
A version of this article appears in the print on August 19, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
