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The main opposition CPN-UML upped its ante against the government on Tuesday, warning that it will not let the House function unless the government forms a high-level parliamentary committee to investigate the incident of a 100-kg gold consignment passing undetected through the high-security Tribhuvan International Airport on July 20. The illegal consignment, concealed in brake shoes of motorcycles and scooters, was intercepted and seized outside the airport at Sinamangal.      

Yogesh Bhattarai, a lawmaker from the CPN-UML, pointed out that government authorities like the customs, TIA management, immigration and law enforcement were caught napping on that fateful day.

He said, “This incident calls for questioning the Home Minister and the Finance Minister. Who will grill them if not a high-level committee?”

Bhattarai reasoned that the facts will not come to light unless a high-level parliamentary panel investigates the security breach, implying that subordinate agencies will find it hard to bring the ministers under the purview of a probe. 

The day saw another opposition party, Rastriya Prajatantra Party, also calling for a high-level probe into the case.  

Rastriya Prajatantra Party Chair and lawmaker Rajendra Lingden claimed that the government itself did not want the House to function, even as it continued to blame the opposition for stalling the proceedings. “Police and CIAA investigations have also been incomplete. The government should relent to the demand for a high-level committee.”

Lingden suspected that fear of its collapse may have prevented the government from constituting a high-level probe panel. He accused the three major parties of holding the country hostage through shady deals. 

“These parties are striving to form an unconstitutional power center through secretive talks.”  

Lingden urged Speaker Devraj Ghimire to clarify on the unparliamentary practice of the three parties making decisions and imposing them on other parties as this practice was going on under his watch. 

Lawmaker and Rastriya Prajatantra Party Chair Rabi Lamichhane also stood in favor of forming a high-level parliamentary probe panel for a credible investigation into the 100-kg gold case. 

House adjourned  

Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha tried to allay, in particular, the main opposition’s concerns while responding to questions raised in the House regarding the 100-kg illegal gold case. Shrestha asked the opposition to give the investigating agency, CIB, 35 days, stressing the need to have faith in the state’s agencies. He pointed out that transnational criminals were turning the country into a transit for gold smuggling, thereby deeply impacting the national security and the economy. 

However, the CPN-UML was far from impressed. It stated that the Home Minister had failed to answer most of its questions. As the obstruction continued, Speaker Ghimire adjourned the meeting till 1 pm, Wednesday.     

The main opposition CPN-UML has demanded formation of a high-level probe committee to investigate the recent gold smuggling case.

The UML said that it would continue its protest until an investigation committee is formed.

Speaking at the Parliament meeting on Tuesday, UML lawmaker Yogesh Bhattarai said that all the lawmakers want the formation of a high-level probe committee.

Saying that the Accounts Committee of Parliament had also drawn the attention of the government towards the formation of the probe committee, he urged the government not to demonstrate “double standards”.

He also demanded voting for the formation of a probe committee.

Highlighting that there is a precedent of forming a high-level probe committee in the big countries like America and India, leader Bhattarai said that the committee is necessary in this case also.

He also gave the example of Sudan and Lalita Niwas land grab case.

“The then chiefs of Nepal Police were brought to book because of the probe committee formed to investigate the Sudan case,” he said, adding, “The door to investigate the former prime ministers in the Lalita Niwas land grab case was opened only after the formation of a probe committee.”

The CPN-UML, which has been continuously obstructing Parliament over the recent smuggling of 100-kg gold through Tribhuvan International Airport, has agreed to allow the operation of today's meeting of the House of Representatives.

The main opposition party is prepared to allow the today's House session on the condition that Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha will give the government's response in regard to the gold smuggling scam.

The party said that it will protest in case the Home Minister falls short of a commitment to form a high-level committee to probe into the scam. 

Although a meeting of the top leaders of the major parties together with Speaker Devraj Ghimire was held at the Prime Minister's residence at Baluwatar in a bid to remove the obstruction of the House business, it ended inconclusively.

"The House will resume at 3 pm today. The meeting will be allowed to proceed ahead if the Home Minister commits to forming a high-level committee and if not then we will stand up in a gesture of protest," UML Whip Mahesh Bartaula said.

According to him, the main opposition party reached the conclusion to allow the House meeting to listen to the reply from the Home Minister (regarding the main opposition party's demand of forming a high-level probe committee) although the government, meeting of the top leaders of the three parties, is stuck to its stance of not forming the high-level committee.

"The government did not budge from its stance in the meeting. We have allowed the House proceedings to move ahead for listening to the Home Minister's reply despite the government's unwillingness to form the high-level committee," he said, adding that they will listen to the Home Minister's response and will also create a condition in which lawmakers from across the country can put their views in the House.

The UML Whip reiterated that the House meeting scheduled for 3pm will be allowed to proceed ahead and they would not obstruct it.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has directed the Nepal Police to remain highly alert to potential consequences of natural disasters during rains, enhancing the effectiveness of disaster preparedness mechanisms. 

In a meeting with Inspector General of Nepal Police, Basanta Bahadur Kunwar, today, the Prime Minister directed him to keep the security system fully prepared for undertaking rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts in an effective way whenever it is needed.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister was concerned about losses of lives and property caused by recent incidents of flooding and landslides in various parts of the country.

It is noted that monsoon-triggered floods and landslides in the last 24 hours at different parts of the country has resulted in considerable losses with flooding and inundation affecting the Kathmandu Valley.

Normal life in various districts has been affected while landslides block roadways at multiple locations.