Speaker issues ruling to govt to inform House about three ministers

KATHMANDU: Speaker of the House of Representatives, Devraj Ghimire, issued a ruling to the government on Monday, asking it to respond to accusations against three ministers made by the opposition parties.

The Speaker issued the ruling after the main opposition CPN-UML and other opposition parties obstructed House proceedings demanding action against three disputed ministers – Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Prakash Jwala, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Sudan Kirati, and Minister for Health and Population Mohan Bahadur Basnet.

The opposition parties have demanded that Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal respond to accusations being raised against these three ministers.

A commission formed to investigate the killings of two youths in the Balkumari incident said in its report that the incident occurred due to the negligence of Minister Jwala. Likewise, the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has taken a statement against Minister Basnet as part of its investigation into the procurement of the Teramocs system for the Nepal Telecommunication Authority, while Minister Kirati’s decision to award 99 ropanis of land in Ramgram to a private party is also being investigated by the CIAA.