KATHMANDU, MAY 27
Minister of Industry, Commerce, and Supplies Dilendra Prasad Badu's allegation of corruption against CPN- UML KP Sharma Oli caused uproar in the House of Representatives.
While delivering a statement of public importance on gasoline issues, Minister Badu said Oli's remarks against the government yesterday were unbecoming of the leader of opposition. He alleged that Oli, who had sought commission while in power, saw commissions everywhere.
Badu said Oli's statement reeked of frustration. This led CPN-UML lawmakers to rise from their seats and stall House proceedings. UML lawmaker Khagaraj Adhikari asked Speaker Agni Sapkota to remove Badu's "unparliamentary" remarks 'unbecoming ...' from record.
Badu, meanwhile, continued speaking and said Oli was frustrated because he had lost power. UML lawmakers again rose from their seats and UML Chief Whip Bishal Bhattarai demanded that Badu's unparliamentary remarks be expunged, following which the speaker adjourned House proceedings for 15 minutes.
UML lawmakers said a minister should not level unsubstantiated allegations against the leader of opposition.
When the House met again, the speaker directed Parliament Secretariat to remove Badu's unparliamentary remarks from the record book.
Addressing the House, UML leader Ishwar Pokharel said the government did not offer any new vision in its policies and programmes.
He said the government wanted to influence the next parliamentary and provincial elections by trying to pass the citizenship bill. "Why was citizenship ordinance brought by the Oli government not allowed to go through? Everybody knows who is obstructing citizenship bill in the parliamentary panel," Pokharel said. He was referring to NC lawmakers who wrote a note of dissent when the bill was passed.
He wondered if the government was abandoning its one China policy by allowing the United States' Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights and the US Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues, Uzra Zeya, to visit a Tibetan refugee camp during her visit a few days ago.
Nepali Congress leader Minendra Rijal said the UML had never obtained more popular vote than the NC.
He said Oli should accept defeat in local polls and prepare for provincial and parliamentary elections.
CPN (Unified Socialist) Chair Madhav Kumar Nepal urged the government to abide by its non-alignment policy as that was in the best interests of Nepal. He said the government should pursue balanced relations with Nepal's neighbours.
Terming the government's focus on agriculture sector in policies and programmes, Nepal said the country could export almost 100 agriculture items to foreign countries and that could help the country balance its trade deficit with foreign countries.
Nepal said the government should prepare the base for socialism. Democratic Socialist Party Nepal leader Rajendra Mahato said 'rulers' continued to discriminate against their own citizens.
A version of this article appears in the print on May 28, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.
