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The major ruling and opposition parties represented in the Federal Parliament failed to agree on the terms of reference (ToR) for the parliamentary committee supposed to investigate the issue of co-operative fraud, rendering Sunday’s meeting of the working group at the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs inconclusive and indicating that they will continue to hold the parliament hostage. 

Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) continued to dig in heels on the thorny issue, with Shishir Khanal, a working group member and a Member of Parliament (MP) from the ruling party, demanding that the entire cooperative sector be brought under investigation as it is “unfair to investigate only one person”, giving the main opposition Nepali Congress not much leeway. 

But a short break from the standoff came as Deputy Prime Minister Lamichhane fielded questions at the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of the federal parliament, regarding his alleged involvement in the cooperative fraud and denied his role in the case. He asked the main opposition Nepali Congress to think seriously on whether to form a committee targeted at individuals, even as NC’s Chief Whip Ramesh Lekhar said that while the government was ready to form such a panel, UML was not willing to bring Deputy Prime Minister Lamichhane under investigation. 

After Home Minister Lamichhane finished speaking, Members of Parliament from the main opposition Nepali Congress got up from their seats and demanded that they be allowed to speak. But Speaker Devraj Ghimire adjourned the meeting till 11 am on Monday. 

Meanwhile, the upper chamber of the federal parliament continued to bear the brunt of the standoff. The meeting of the National Assembly (NA) initially scheduled for 1:15 pm on Sunday was deferred to 3:15 pm, only to be postponed until Monday. On Sunday, NA Chair Narayana Prasad Dahal was to inform the assembly about a letter received from the Office of the President regarding the appointment of ministers and ministers of state, as well as the allocation of ministerial portfolios. 

The NC has long been obstructing the parliamentary proceedings, alleging the involvement of Deputy Prime Minister Lamichhane in the fraud and demanding the formation of a parliamentary committee to ensure a fair investigation into the case whereas the CPN-UML and RSP in particular have made it clear in no uncertain terms that an individual-centric probe is simply unacceptable.

Nepali Congress General Secretary Gagan Thapa said that the Parliament will not be allowed to function until a parliamentary probe committee is formed to investigate fraud charges against Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane.

Organizing a press conference in the Capital on Sunday, he said that Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal will not be allowed to seek a vote of confidence until a parliamentary probe committee is formed.

“We will not let the House proceed with its business until a parliamentary committee is formed. The process to seek a vote of confidence will not move forward,” he said, adding, “We want the federal Parliament to run without any disruption. Our demand is not illegitimate. We believe that the government, prime minister, deputy prime minister will come by forming a parliamentary probe committee before 11 am tomorrow.”

Rastriya Swatantra Party President Rabi Lamichhane has said that the Nepali Congress offered him prime ministership for one-and-a-half years.

Addressing the Parliament meeting on Sunday, Lamichhane questioned the Congress how he can be the prime minister if he is not eligible to serve as the home minister.

“If I am not eligible to be the prime minister, what ethics will let me to be the prime minister. I would like to put this question to Parliament today,” he said “It would be better if Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba answer this issue in the Parliament. Is it good to obstruct the Parliament after I turned down the offer of prime ministership? Is the demand of the parliamentary probe committee lawful?” he questioned. 

He denied all the allegations and directed the police administration to arrest him if he is found guilty.

Home Minister Lamichhane said that he was not involved in the cooperative fraud and is ready to face action if the allegations leveled against him are proven.

Janata Samajbadi Party Nepal Chairman Upendra Yadav moved the Supreme Court to stop Janata Samajbadi Party lawmakers from giving a vote of confidence to Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal.

Yadav moved the apex court to stop seven lawmakers of Ashok Rai-led Janata Samajbadi Party, which was formed after the split of Janata Samajbadi Party Nepal, from giving a vote of confidence to Prime Minister Dahal.

The writ filed by Yadav has already been registered, Supreme Court Information Officer Govinda Prasad Ghimire informed.

According to him, the hearing has been scheduled for tomorrow.

Janata Samajbadi Party Nepal spokesperson Manish Suman the writ was filed as per the previous order of the Supreme Court.

Along with Chairman Rai, Sushila Shrestha, Nawal Kishor Sah, Pradeep Yadav, Ranju Jha, Birendra Mahato and Hasina Khan are the lawmakers in Janata Samajbadi Party.

Prime Minister Dahal has already written to the Parliament Secretariat to make arrangements for him to take a vote of confidence.

The Rai-led government has participated in the Dahal-led government.

Pradeep Yadav has been appointed as the Minister for Health, Nawal Kishor Sah as the Minister for Forest and Hasina Khan as State Minister.