KATHMANDU: The main opposition party, CPN (UML) has continued its obstruction in the meeting of the House of Representatives (HoR) today also. As always, the main opposition party lawmakers picketed the rostrum and chanted slogans at the outset of the meeting.
Speaker Agni Prasad Sapkota had urged the main opposition party MPs to cooperate in continuing the House proceedings, reminding of the provision in the House of Representatives Regulations which states that a topic which is under consideration of the court cannot be discussed in the parliament session.
The UML has continued its obstruction even after the Speaker’s request. The parliamentary business has resumed even amid the protest and obstruction.
The main opposition party has continued to obstruct the parliament business since the beginning of the parliament session, demanding action it recommended against 14 of its lawmakers should be moved ahead. The UML had expelled the 14 lawmakers elected from the UML ticket who split from the party and joined the CPN (Unified Socialist). It had sent letter to the HoR Secretariat informing it of its action.
The main opposition party has been alleging the Speaker of not taking prompt action against the 14 lawmakers against whom it had taken action.
President’s letter to HoR read out
In today’s meeting of the House of Representatives (HoR), Speaker Agni Prasad Sapkota read out the particulars of a letter received from the Office of the President. The letter is related to the authentication of the Appropriation Bill, 2021.
The President had authenticated the bill passed by both the Houses of the Federal Parliament on September 23. HoR Secretary Gopalnath Yogi informed the meeting regarding the message related to two bills received from the National Assembly, the Upper House.
He informed the meeting regarding the message related to the Finance Bill, 2021 and the Bill Related to Mobilizing Internal Loans, 2021. Both the bills were passed by the Upper House today itself.
The main opposition party CPN (UML) lawmakers had picketed the rostrum and chanted slogans soon after the commencement of the meeting. The HoR will next meet at 1pm on September 30.
National Assembly: Two Bills endorsed
The National Assembly (NA) has endorsed the ‘Finance Bill 2078 BS’ and the ‘Bill to Mobilize Internal Loan 2078 BS’.
Finance Minister Janardan Sharma proposed the meeting separately to pass the Bills received from the House of Representatives with message. As none came forward to take part in the deliberations, the Upper House accepted the documents with a majority of votes.
Once the meeting convened, main opposition CPN (UML) lawmakers stood from their respective seats to protest against the House proceedings, NA Chair Ganesh Prasad Timilsina granted time to party lawmaker Parshuram Meghi Gurung to put forth his opinion.
Lawmaker Gurung drew the NA’s attention towards the Bill introduced by the incumbent government to replace the budget announced by the erstwhile UML-led government through an ordinance.
He also demanded that annual income of the party leadership should be made public. He accused the government of bringing the Substitution Bill giving tax discount to different individuals and removing the condition for presenting the source of income.
In his replies, Finance Minister Sharma said the government intended to expand the tax net keeping the laws against money laundering and corruption untouched.
The NA shall meet again at 1:00 pm on October 3.
