August 16, 2000

KATHMANDU: Once more the opposition parties in the House of Representatives have staged a walkout and stalled House proceedings. However this time, they have a valid demand in making a united stance against Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala.

It may be recalled, that PM Koirala had drawn the ire of the elected representatives when at a public function on August 12, he had said the democratic system had been weakened by the “smugglers who have invaded the Parliament”. He had made this remark right after the threat made to his post by rebelling NC lawmakers.

Many MPs had criticised this blatant insult the Prime Minister had made to the people’s elected representatives.

It is true, Prime Minister Koirala sometimes makes “on the heat of the moment” remarks, which land him in trouble later on. One may recall how he had said he will not make any official visit to India till the Kalapani issue had been resolved. But he had to eat his words when he made the official visit to India last week, though the Kalapani issue had not budged even an inch.

This time, first the MPs of the main opposition party, the CPN (UML) led by senior leader of the party K.P. Oli walked out from the House on Monday in protest against what PM Koirala had said.

The RPP also chose to do the same and the party’s MPs led by former Minister Pashupati Shumsher Rana too staged a walkout. They, like the UML MPs said they would not attend the House proceedings till the Prime Minister made it clear who the “smugglers” within the Parliament were. The Sadbhavana Party MPs also followed suit and now it looks like House proceedings will not start unless PM Koirala makes a clarification or an apology.

Like one observer remarked, it is surprising why the Prime Minister makes such irresponsible comments, which constantly land him in trouble. “Specially, he should have controlled himself while making a remark, which has irritated all the MPs in the House. That was a very foolish thing to do”.

Individual MPs also ranted out against the comment made by Koirala and they accused the PM of giving the impression that the Parliament “is a stronghold of smugglers”.

When he is facing so much trouble from within the party, this pressure from all the opposition parties too, will surely not benefit PM Koirala politically. It will be interesting to see how the “sharp” advisors of the Prime Minister will get him out of this mess.