Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Opposition parties have decided to lift the disruption of parliamentary proceedings so that the government can present the budget for the fiscal year 2025/26.
A meeting of the opposition parties held on Wednesday, however, decided to continue demanding the resignation of Minister of Home Affairs Ramesh Lekhak, who, the opposition alleges, is involved in the visit visa scam.
” The meeting decided to persist with the demand for the Home Minister’s resignation, but not to block the budget,” CPN (Maoist Center) leader Madhav Sapkota said.
Home Minister Lekhak has fallen into controversy over allegations that members of his secretariat were involved in taking money through under-the-table “arrangements” from individuals travelling abroad on visit visas.
The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) recently summoned Tirtha Raj Bhattarai, a joint secretary at the Home Ministry, for questioning in this connection.
Lekhake had earlier appointed Bhattarai as the chief immigration officer at the Tribhuvan International Airport. He was later transferred back to the Home Ministry, and the day after his transfer, the CIAA took him into custody for investigation.
Lawmakers of the opposition parties say that Lekhak hastily transferred Bhattarai back to the ministry after the CIAA started an investigation into the visit visa scam.
