Denied time to speak, lawmaker undresses in parliament

KATHMANDU: The House of Representatives was in for a shock on Monday as independent lawmaker Amresh Kumar Singh started undressing after he was denied an opportunity to speak.

“I intended to raise the issue of corruption, but I was denied the chance to speak. Undressing was my way of protesting. It is a form of expression,” Singh told Himal Press.

As Singh began to remove his clothes, Speaker Devraj Ghimire cautioned that appropriate action would be taken if he did not conduct himself in a dignified manner. Subsequently, Singh composed himself, dressed up, and exited the parliament.

“What purpose does it serve to be a part of the parliament if I cannot advocate for the people’s concerns?” questioned Singh. He emphasized the need for an impartial investigation into the case of fake Bhutanese refugees.

“I understand the significance of parliamentary decorum. I was not fully naked. I undressed as a means of protest,” he clarified. “I have served as a parliamentarian four times; I am well aware of the concept of dignity,” he maintained.

Asserting that corruption involving tens of millions of rupees cannot occur without some level of involvement of the political leadership, Singh demanded a transparent and unbiased investigation into the case.