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The Nepali Congress, the main opposition party in the Federal Parliament, has decided to hit the streets demanding a parliamentary inquiry against Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane, who faces charges of misappropriating cooperative funds, his resignation and return of cooperative depositors’ embezzled funds.

The joint meeting of the Congress Central Committee and the Parliamentary Party held on Wednesday decided to stage a demonstration on Friday in Kathmandu and also organize protests outside the Kathmandu valley thereafter. 

The Congress central meeting maintained that Lamichhane should not remain in power because he had used rude, violent and insulting words in the parliament, a leader participating in the meeting informed, adding that it also decided to demand the recouping of cooperative victims’ embezzled deposits.

The government is heading on the path of authoritarianism instead of forming a parliamentary probe committee to look into cases of cooperative fraud, leaving Congress leaders with no other option than organizing protests against such an undemocratic culture, said Dila Sangraula, Congress central member and lawmaker.

“Now, Congress leaders will take to the streets. We have decided to stage the protest not only in the Parliament but also on the roads. Our protest will continue until the parliamentary probe committee is formed and the victims of cooperatives get justice,” she said.

Earlier, the major ruling and opposition parties represented in the Federal Parliament failed to agree on the terms of reference (ToR) for the parliamentary committee to investigate the issue of cooperative fraud, rendering Sunday’s meeting of the working group at the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs inconclusive. 

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 that an individual-centric probe is simply unacceptable.

The main opposition Nepali Congress is to organize a mass meeting in Kathmandu on Friday demanding formation of a parliamentary probe committee to investigate cooperative fraud charges against Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane.

A joint meeting of the Central Committee and Parliamentary Party decided to organize a mass assembly for the justice of the victims of cooperatives.

Congress central member and lawmaker Dila Sangraula said that the government is heading on the path of authoritarianism instead of forming a parliamentary probe committee to look into cooperative fraud cases.

She said that the Congress leaders are compelled to hit the streets against the undemocratic culture of the government.

“Now, Congress leaders will take to the streets. We have decided to stage the protest not only in the Parliament but also on the roads. Our protest will continue until the parliamentary probe committee is formed and the victims of cooperatives get justice,” she said.

CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli has urged the main opposition Nepali Congress (NC) to put an end to the ongoing Parliament impasse.

Talking to the media at Biratnagar Airport today, the former Prime Minister and the Chair of the government coalition partner urged the main opposition to cease the party's obstructions in the House bearing in mind the necessity to proceed with the schedules of endorsing the government policies and programs and announcing the budget for a new fiscal year. "The Nepali Congress should reconsider its stance."

Underlining the need for political consensus, cooperation, and unity to achieve political stability, the leader said the present time requires political parties to address the citizen's concerns.

The level of cooperation, unity, and consensus that political parties demonstrated during the promulgation of the Constitution is once again needed, according to him.

The main opposition Nepali Congress has maintained its stance not to allow the House to function until a parliamentary committee is formed to investigate Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane in the cooperative case.

Talking to journalists after the meeting of the task force held to prepare the terms of reference (ToR) of the parliamentary probe committee on Tuesday, Nepali Congress Deputy General Secretary Jeevan Pariyar informed that though both ruling and opposition parties are ready to form the committee, his party's stance of not allowing the Parliament to proceed with its business remains the same until it is formed.

“The party has been raising the issue of Lamichhane’s alleged involvement in the cooperative fraud case for the past few weeks. We put our views on the same issue in today’s meeting also. It has been agreed to move ahead by holding further discussions. A meeting is being held to discuss to find ways to forge common consensus on the issue raised by us,” he said, adding, “The House will not function until the parliamentary probe committee is formed.”

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.

The main opposition Nepali Congress has expressed dissatisfaction over the role of Speaker Devraj Ghimire, accusing him of being biased.

Determining that the role of Speaker Ghimire in today's meeting of the House of Representatives was not compatible with his position, a meeting of the NC Parliamentary Party held today raised questions over it.

The party questioned the role of the Speaker, saying the Speaker forwarded the agenda of the Parliament meeting amidst the protest and sloganeering of the opposition party. "A situation where a person in the position of the Speaker of the Parliament is used as a party member undermines the parliamentary norms and values. So, this meeting draws the serious attention of the Speaker to carry out activities in order to protect the parliamentary norms and values' ', reads the decision.

The NC Parliamentary Party meeting blamed the Speaker for forwarding the proposal related to a vote of confidence of the Prime Minister amidst protests and sloganeering of the opposition party and not allowing NC lawmakers to put forth their views. 

At a news conference organized to inform about the meeting of the NC Parliamentary Party, Chief Whip Ramesh Lekhak said the Speaker should not behave like a party cadre.  The meeting drew the conclusion that the Parliament meeting should not be run by ignoring the democratic and parliamentary norms and values.

Chief Whip Lekhak mentioned that instead of forming a parliamentary probe committee as per the demand of the opposition parties, it was not appropriate to complete the process of taking a vote of confidence even after having enough time for the same.

All opposition parties in the Parliament including the NC have been demanding formation of a parliamentary probe committee to ensure free and impartial investigation on embezzlement of cooperative funds.

CPN-UML Vice Chair Bishnu Prasad Paudel has urged the main opposition Nepali Congress to follow the democratic practice and end the deadlock in the Parliament.

In today's meeting of the House of Representatives, Poudel supported the proposal the Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal presented in the House seeking a vote of confidence in accordance with Article 100, Sub-article 2 of the Constitution of Nepal and hoped for end to the deadlock in the Parliament for political stability in the country.

"I request all the parties to support the government to speed up development in the country while maintaining political stability. I call upon the Nepali Congress to reconsider its role and follow democratic practices in the Parliament," Poudel said.

Vice Chair Poudel claimed that the current government has given a message of guaranteeing good governance, disillusionment surfaced at the civil level has been eradicated and hope is being communicated through recent efforts made by the government.

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.

The Parliament meeting has been postponed for 15 minutes following obstructions from the main opposition Nepali Congress.

Soon after the meeting commenced, the lawmakers from the opposition parties including the Nepali Congress started chanting slogans.

Speaker Devraj Ghimire postponed the meeting for 15 minutes after the Congress lawmakers obstructed the proceedings.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal is scheduled to seek a vote of confidence from the House of Representatives today.

The Congress has been obstructing the Parliament demanding formation of a parliamentary probe committee to investigate fraud charges against Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane.

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.

A meeting of the opposition parties held on Sunday decided to allow Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane to speak in the Parliament.

The meeting of the opposition parties held at the Parliament building in New Baneshwor under the leadership of the Nepali Congress decided to allow Home Minister Lamichhane to speak in Parliament, a leader, who attended the meeting, said.

“Home Minister Lamichhane, who is accused of embezzling funds of cooperatives, has been saying he should be allowed to speak in the Parliament. He will speak in the Parliament and we will listen,” he said.

Rastriya Prajatantra Party spokesperson Gyanendra Shahi informed that the opposition parties have agreed to allow Lamichhane to speak in the Parliament.

After Lamichhane expressed his views in the Parliament, the opposition parties would seek time from the Speaker, he said.

“We will allow the Home Minister to speak in the Parliament. Then, we will ask time with the Speaker for the opposition parties to speak. Probably, Nepali Congress will speak on behalf of the opposition parties,” Shahi said.

The ruling and opposition parties have agreed to form a parliamentary committee to investigate fraud charges against Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Lamichhane.

Mahesh Bartaula of CPN-UML, Jeevan Pariyar of the Nepali Congress, Shishir Khanal of the Rastriya Swatantra Party are the members of the task force formed under the headship of Law Minister Padam Giri.

The meeting of the National Assembly (NA) has been postponed today after the main opposition party, Nepali Congress, obstructed the proceedings on Friday.

The NA Chairman Narayana Prasad Dahal adjourned the meeting after the Nepali Congress lawmakers stood up from their seats at the outset in protest. He postponed the meeting till 1: 15 pm on May 19, Sunday.

The Nepali Congress has been obstructing the meeting of the upper house of the Federal Parliament, calling for the formation of a parliamentary committee to carry out an impartial investigation into the alleged involvement of Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane in the misappropriation of the cooperative funds.

The main opposition Nepali Congress has reiterated the demand of forming a parliamentary probe committee.

A meeting of the NC Parliamentary Party held this morning reiterated the same demand for the guarantee of security of savings of cooperative depositors, to return the savings of depositors and to take action against those involved in embezzlement of the cooperative funds.  

The meeting held under the chairmanship of NC President and Parliamentary Party leader Sher Bahadur Deuba reiterated the demand of forming the parliamentary probe committee as other political parties in the federal Parliament also raised the same demand, NC Chief Whip Ramesh Lekhak said.

Stating that the fact for the formation of a parliamentary probe committee is being established, Lekhak shared that the NC PP meeting again demanded formation of a parliamentary probe committee. 

"In parliamentary history and tradition, it is considered that the meeting is obstructed if opposition party lawmakers stand up from their seats in protest in the House," he added, stressing that conducting the meeting by Speaker amidst the sloganeering of the main opposition party as well as protests of other parties standing from their seats was not appropriate.

A discussion among the Nepali Congress lawmakers is underway after the postponement of the meeting of the House of Representatives.

The main opposition Nepali Congress has taken a stance that it would not allow the House of function until a parliamentary committee is formed to probe fraud charges against Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane.

Home Minister Lamichhane has not been able to speak about the allegations leveled against him by the Congress in the Parliament.

During a Parliamentary Party meeting held on Wednesday, CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli had said that his party would retaliate if the Nepali Congress obstructed the Parliament meeting.

Congress has adopted flexibility to allow Lamichhane to speak after Oli warned that the UML would speak if Lamichhane is not allowed to speak in today’s Parliament meeting.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal this morning held a meeting with the leaders of ruling coalition and the main opposition Congress to discuss the House deadlock and forming a parliamentary probe committee.

NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba has become flexible after Prime Minister Dahal urged him to allow Home Minister Lamichhane to speak in the Parliament and form the parliamentary committee later, Congress Chief Whip Ramesh Lekhak said.

“The meeting of the Congress lawmakers is underway. I am also going. Prime Minister Dahal had urged the party President Deuba to allow Home Minister Lamichhane to speak in the Parliament and form the parliamentary probe committee later,” he said, adding, “President Sher Bahadur Deuba is also positive on the same. A meeting is underway to take opinion from other friends on the issue.”

They have demanded that the Congress should also be allowed to speak after Lamichhane expressed his views.

A Parliament meeting scheduled for 11 am has been postponed for 4 pm today.

The main opposition Nepali Congress (NC) has decided to  allow the government to present policies and programs for the upcoming fiscal year in the federal Parliament today.

The main opposition party had been obstructing the proceedings of the House of Representatives before this calling for forming a parliamentary committee for conducting impartial investigation into the cooperative scandal.

A meeting of the Nepali Congress Parliamentary Party today decided to allow President Ram Chandra Paudel to present the government's policies and programs for the next fiscal year in the joint meeting of the federal Parliament today, the NC Chief Whip Ramesh Lekhak said.

President Paudel is scheduled to present the policies and programs in the federal Parliament's joint meeting at 3 pm today.

The NC has, however, stated that it will not allow running the Parliament proceedings in the discussions following the agenda of presenting the policies and programs until the parliamentary investigation committee is formed. 

The Nepali Congress has been demanding formation of a parliamentary committee to investigate fraud charges against Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal urged the main opposition Nepali Congress not to obstruct the Parliament while presenting the government’s policies and programs for the financial year 2024/25.

During a meeting held in Baluwatar this morning, the Prime Minister urged the Nepali Congress leaders not to create obstruction while the President is presenting the policies and programs of the government for the financial year 2024/25 in the joint meeting of the federal Parliament today, Congress Chief Whip Ramesh Lekhak informed.

General Secretary Gagan Thapa and Chief Whip Lekhak among other leaders were present in the meeting.

Prime Minister Dahal urged the Nepali Congress leaders to adopt flexibility saying it would send a wrong message if they obstruct the Parliament when the President is presenting the policies and programs.

On the occasion, the Prime Minister said that he is committed to resolving the cooperative problems.

In response, the Congress leaders said that they would decide on how to move ahead after the Parliamentary Party meeting.

The NC has been obstructing the Parliament demanding formation of a parliamentary probe committee to investigate charges against Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane.

The Parliamentary Party meeting of the Nepali Congress scheduled for this afternoon has been postponed for Tuesday morning.

Congress Chief Whip Ramesh Lekhak said that they will continue the discussions within the party on contemporary political issues today and the Parliamentary Party meeting will be held at 8 am tomorrow.

According to him, they will have an intense discussion in the meeting to be held on Tuesday morning and decide on how to present themselves in the next meeting of the Parliament.

The Congress has been obstructing the meetings of both the Houses of federal Parliament–House of Representatives and National Assembly–demanding the formation of a parliamentary probe committee to investigate fraud charges against Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane.

The main opposition Nepali Congress obstructed even the first meeting of the budget session held on Friday demanding the formation of a parliamentary committee.

The party has been saying that it would not allow the House of function until the parliamentary committee is formed to investigate Lamichhane’s alleged involvement in misusing the cooperative funds.

Amid sloganeering by the Congress lawmakers, Speaker Dev Raj Ghimire postponed the Parliament meeting till Tuesday.

CPN-UML Chief Whip Mahesh Bartaula accused the Nepali Congress of demanding the government in the name of a parliamentary committee.

Speaking to journalists after the meeting called by Speaker Dev Raj Ghimire, he clarified that the parliamentary committee will not be formed as demanded by the Congress.

“Congress has not demanded the parliamentary committee. It has demanded the government in the name of a parliamentary committee, which is not possible. The parliamentary probe committee is not in accordance with law and regulations,” Bartaula said.

He was of the opinion that the demand of Congress is not in favor of cooperative victims.

“The demand of Congress will not be addressed,” he further said.

“We have come here to formulate laws, not to carry out investigations. We will be only investigation officers for five years if we keep on forming committees,” Chief Whip Bartaula said, adding, “The UML will also pile pressure on the government to take a concrete initiative to resolve the problems of cooperative victims.”

The government is unveiling its policies and programs on Tuesday.

President Ram Chandra Paudel will present the government policies and programs in the joint meeting of the House of Representatives and National Assembly.