House proceedings disrupted

July 18, 2001
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Opposition parties disrupted the proceedings of both House’s of Parliament Wednesday demanding resignation of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala.

As soon as Speaker Tara Nath Ranabhat initiated the meeting in the House of Representatives, opposition lawmakers stood up and accused the Prime Minister of violating his own 14-point agenda for national consensus, lying to the parliament, failing to solve the country’s problems and betraying the nation.

The lawmakers of CPN-UML, RPP, Nepal Sadbhavana Party, Nepal Majdoor Kisaan Party, National United Front and United Front Nepal announced that they would not allow House proceedings unless Prime Minister Koirala resigned.

Khadga Prasad Oli and Ishwar Pokhrel of CPN-UML, Dr. Prakash Chandra Lohani of RPP, Badri Prasad Mandal of Nepal Sadbhavana Party, Lila Mani Pokhrel of United People’s Front, Pari Thapa of National People’s Front said that the government disseminated false information regarding the army operation in Rolpa.

They claimed that army has already pulled out from the Nuwagaun of Rolpa and Maoist rebels, who had kidnapped the policemen, had also fled the scene. They said that the government dis-informed parliament and the people saying that army has surrounded the Maoist rebels in Nuwagaun to release the abducted policemen.

Oli of CPN-UML said that the act of government has lowered the morale of army.

Lawmakers then stood in front of Speakers’ seat and chanted slogans against Prime Minister for 20 minutes. Taranath Ranabhat repeatedly asked lawmakers to calm down and take their seat but they continued their protest. Finally Speaker postponed the meeting of the House of Representatives until 3 pm Wednesday.

In the second meeting as well, the same scene was repeated. Speaker Ranabhat then postponed the meeting of the House of Representatives until July 20. The meeting of the National Assembly, Upper House of Parliament, too, was postponed as all opposition lawmakers boycotted the meeting.

It is the first time that opposition disrupted the House proceeding in the 20th session of parliament.