NC obstructs vote of thanks motion in parliament

KATHMANDU: The motion of vote of thanks could not be tabled in both houses of the federal parliament due to obstructions by the lawmakers of the Nepali Congress (NC).

President Ram Chandra Poudel presented the government’s policies and programs for the upcoming fiscal year 2024/25 in the joint session of the House of Representatives and the National Assembly on Tuesday afternoon. A motion of vote of thanks usually follows the presentation and addresses by the President in each house of the federal parliament. However, the motion could not be tabled on Tuesday due to obstructions by the main opposition.

As soon as the meetings of the National Assembly and the House of Representatives began on Tuesday evening, NC lawmakers obstructed the government from tabling the motion.

The NC has been obstructing House proceedings for the past few days, demanding the formation of a parliamentary inquiry panel to probe cooperative fraud allegations against Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Rabi Lamichhane. A meeting of the NC’s parliamentary party held on Tuesday morning had decided to allow the President to present the government’s policies and programs.

The meetings of both Houses have been scheduled for Thursday.