Meeting between Speaker, chief whips ends inconclusive

KATHMANDU: A meeting called by Speaker Devraj Ghimire with chief whips of different political parties to resolve the ongoing House obstruction ended inconclusively on Sunday.

Ghimire held discussions with the chief whips and Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Padami Giri on the government’s policies and programs to be presented in the joint session of both Houses on Tuesday, as well as the parliament obstruction.

After the meeting, Nepali Congress Chief Whip Ramesh Lekhak reiterated his party’s stance of forming a parliamentary inquiry committee to probe allegations against Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane. “It depends on how the government deals with it. It is up to the Prime Minister to find a way out,” he said.

However, CPN-UML Chief Whip Mahesh Bartaula argued that the parliamentary inquiry committee demanded by the main opposition lacks a legal basis. “The Nepali Congress is demanding the government’s removal in the name of a committee. That is not possible,” he said.

Bartaula added that the UML is ready to support the government in taking action against those involved in cooperative scams and returning the funds at risk to the depositors.