RSP boycotts HoR session

KATHMANDU: Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) boycotted the meeting of the House of Representatives on Friday.

The party’s lawmakers boycotted the parliamentary meeting, stating that their members were not given time to speak despite their request.

RSP lawmakers announced a 15-minute boycott of the house session after they were not allotted time to speak.

Earlier, as the meeting began, RSP lawmakers stood up in protest. Although the Speaker instructed the lawmakers to sit down, stating that there were many topics to be discussed and that issues could be raised on a party basis, the RSP lawmakers continued their protest.

“We have thoroughly discussed the agenda of the meeting in the meeting of the Business Advisory Committee. According to the predetermined agenda, everyone gets to present their views on a party basis. Please take your seats and cooperate in conducting the session,” Speaker Devraj Ghimire said. Speaker Ghimire repeatedly requested the RSP lawmakers to take their seats. After they did not comply with repeated requests, the Speaker ordered them to sit.

RSP lawmakers defied the Speaker’s order. They demanded that they be given an opportunity to speak at any time to present their views, while Speaker Ghimire urged them to do so within the time allocated on a party basis. Speaker Ghimire also drew attention to the difference between regular meetings and the session’s initial meeting.

Despite the protest by the RSP lawmakers, the Speaker read out and presented letters received from the Office of the President and the Office of the Prime Minister.