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A writ petition has been filed against Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane at the Supreme Court (SC) on Monday.

Stating that the DPM was involved in embezzling the cooperative funds, lawyer Anupam Bhattarai lodged the writ petition at the SC demanding to remove him from the post.

A single bench of Justice Tek Prasad Dhungana issued an order to register the writ petition, scrapping the previous order to not register the writ petition against the Home Minister on May 22.

The hearing for the petition has been determined for May 29.  

The writ petition has also demanded to suspend Home Minster Lamichhane from the post and scrap the letter of Office of the Attorney General. 

The letter mentioned that there is no case against Lamichhane.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Rabi Lamichhane has opined that the activities against the public aspirations and organizational spirit of police will not be accepted at any cost.

Addressing the convocation ceremony of Nepal Police, Police Inspector Basic Training 1-182, today, DPM Lamichhane directed the police officials to follow the rule of law, supremacy of constitution and government's policy and program.

Minister Lamichhane drew attention to the organization's commitment to peace and security promotion, crime control and public service delivery to provide citizen-friendly services.

He argued that the newly inducted police officials should bear the responsibility of the organization to meet the public aspirations in service delivery, corruption and crime control and keep the organization intact and effective.

Inspector General of Police Basanta Bahadur Kunwar directed the officials to use the technology for carrying out factual and evidence-based investigations in accordance with the laws and scientific way by analyzing the collected evidence and to adhere to the international standards of human rights.

On the occasion, awards were given to police inspectors Pawan Kumar Pariyar, Sagun Khadka, Ayush Dhungana and Gokul Kumar Dhanuk for their outstanding performance in various categories during the training session.

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.

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.

Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane said that he should be allowed to speak in the Parliament about the allegations leveled against him by the main opposition Nepali Congress.

He held a discussion with Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli on this issue in Singha Durbar this afternoon.

Saying that all have the rights to speak in democracy, Lamichhane said that he should be allowed to clarify about the allegations leveled against him in the Parliament.

The Home Minister said that he would respect the rights of the Congress to protest if it is not satisfied with his answers.

Lamichhane said that he has no other demand than to allow him to speak in the Parliament.

The Congress has been obstructing the Parliament demanding formation of a parliamentary probe committee to investigate fraud charges against Lamichhane.

The main opposition Nepali Congress said that Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal is positive on forming a parliamentary committee on cooperative scam.

After a meeting between Prime Minister Dahal and Congress leaders today, Chief Whip Ramesh Lekhak said that the Prime Minister is positive on forming a probe committee for investigation into Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane over his alleged involvement in the misuse of cooperative funds.

During the meeting, they reiterated their demand of forming a parliamentary probe committee.

“We have been raising the issue of cooperative fraud in the Parliament. We have said that a parliamentary probe committee should be formed. The Prime Minister has taken the issue in a positive way,” he said.

Lekhak said that they would ahead as per the decisions of the Parliamentary Party committee meeting to be held on Monday.

The main opposition Nepali Congress said that a parliamentary probe committee to investigate cooperative fraud charges against Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane is its bottom line.

A Parliamentary Party meeting held on Friday made a conclusion that the party would not allow the House to function until the demand of forming a parliamentary probe committee to investigate Lamichhane is addressed, Congress Chief Whip Ramesh Lekhak said.

He said that the government will be held responsible if the Parliamentary meeting is obstructed.

“The bottom line of the Congress is to form a parliamentary probe committee to investigate Rabi Lamichhane. The government has been ignoring the demand of the main opposition. The government itself will be responsible if the Parliament meeting is obstructed,” he said to mediapersons after the meeting.

He said that more evidence has emerged to confirm Lamichhane’s involvement in the cooperative fraud case.

The Congress said that the government mechanism has been misused to protect Lamichhane.

The main opposition Nepali Congress has decided to allow Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane to speak in the Parliament meeting.

A Parliamentary Party meeting of the Congress held on Thursday decided to allow Lamichhane along with other senior leaders to speak in the Parliament, a lawmaker, who attended the meeting, said.

He said that the meeting has decided to let Lamichhane to speak in the Parliament in the capacity of the President of Rastriya Swatantra Party.

The Congress has been demanding the formation of a parliamentary probe committee to investigate Lamichhane’s alleged involvement in the fraud involving millions of rupees.

The NC had not allowed Lamichhane to take to the rostrum in the previous session of the Parliament.

After the main opposition did not allow him to take to the rostrum, Lamichhane has been saying that he be allowed to speak in the Parliament.

The Congress has been saying it would not allow the House to proceed with its business until the parliamentary probe committee is formed.

Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane has said that he has already spoken with the Malaysian Home Minister to arrest GB Rai, who was involved in the cooperative fraud case.

Speaking to journalists at Singha Durbar on Tuesday, Lamichhane said that he has already held a discussion with the Malaysian Home Minister to detain GB Rai.

Though there are some legal hurdles to bring Rai back to Nepal, Lamichhane, who is also the President of Rastriya Swatantra Party, said that he has discussed the issue with the political leaders in Malaysia.

Home Minister Lamichhane said that he is also searching for the persons who helped Rai flee the country.

Nepali Congress Chief Whip Ramesh Lekhak said that consensus, cooperation and dialogue will be necessary to protect the country from instability and to strengthen the federal democratic republic.

In a press conference organized by the Nepal Press Union Kanchanpur chapter in Mahendranagar today, he noted that there is dissatisfaction within the CPN-UML in the current government and expressed his own doubts about the present ruling power equation.

"There is a strong opinion within the Nepali Congress and UML that big parties should form the government together," he said, adding that people are also of the opinion that big parties should take the country in the right direction. However, there is no concrete progress about power sharing between Congress and UML, he said.

Even if it is not for running the government, cooperation and discussion between major parties is necessary for leading the country towards stability, to protect the constitution and to strengthen democracy, he said.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'himself has expressed a positive opinion about investigation into cooperative sectors and said that the Congress is also positive about it.

NC leader Lekhak said that the Congress will always stand firm in its stance of forming a parliamentary probe committee to investigate fraud charges against Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane.

"We have not demanded resignation, but investigation,” he said, adding “He is confident that the matter will be addressed before the Parliament meeting scheduled for May 10.”

Prime Minister and CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli and Rastriya Swatantra Party President and Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane held an intensive discussion on Saturday.

During the meeting that lasted around three hours, the three leaders discussed contemporary political issues and budget sessions, a Baluwatar source said.

President Ram Chandra Paudel on the recommendation of the government has called the meeting of both the houses of federal Parliament on Friday afternoon.

Earlier, the government had prorogued the winter session to prepare the budget.

Actually, the government had prorogued the Parliament session after the main opposition Nepali Congress obstructed the House proceedings demanding formation of a parliamentary probe committee to investigate fraud charges against Home Minister Lamichhane.

The Congress has said that it would not give up its stance of forming a parliamentary probe committee to investigate cooperative fraud charges against Minister Lamichhane.

The three leaders also discussed this issue in the meeting held last night.

As the cooperative fraud case is becoming complex day by day, the situation may also come to form the parliamentary probe committee as demanded by the Nepali Congress, Prime Minister Dahal said.

They have also reached a conclusion that the government should take an initiative to resolve the cooperative issues.

The government is preparing to bring a special plan to iron out the cooperative problems that have been becoming a serious problem across the country.

The leaders of the three political parties have agreed to inform the Parliament by forming a committee to investigate the irregularities in the cooperatives.

Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Lamichhane has also agreed to form a parliamentary probe committee to investigate the cooperative scam, the Baluwatar source said.

Earlier, Home Minister Lamichhane had held a separate meeting with UML Chairman Oli.

Later, Oli and Prime Minister Dahal had discussed the cooperative issues in Baluwatar.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said discussions were underway at the political level to end the deadlock of the House of Representatives and it would be resolved soon.

Talking briefly to mediapersons at Biratnagar today, Prime Minister Dahal shared that the recent impasse would be resolved through political discussion.

He expressed the belief that problems could be resolved by studying the overall issue related to cooperatives and the topic concerning Rastriya Swatantra Party President and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane separately.

"Formation of a parliamentary probe committee has been demanded keeping Deputy Prime Minister Lamichhane at center, which cannot be addressed," the PM said.

Stating that the opposition parties have been making the problems seen in the cooperative sector as a political issue rather than solving it after the change in the political alliance, PM Dahal underlined, "Earlier, the Nepali Congress was with us in the government. The issue of cooperatives was minor for them at that time. After exiting from the government, formation of a parliamentary probe committee has been demanded keeping Rabi Lamichhane in the center. It is based on political prejudice."

He clarified that the efforts made to break the existing political equation would not be successful.

A meeting of the House of Representatives has been postponed by pasting a notice after the main opposition Nepali Congress refused to end obstruction in the House proceedings.

Earlier, the meeting was postponed for 15 minutes following the obstruction of the Nepali Congress.

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

The party has been taking a stand that it would not allow Home Minister Lamichhane to take to the rostrum until the demands are met.

According to the agenda of the House of Representatives meeting, Home Minister Lamichhane was presenting the amended bill to political parties today.

The meeting was postponed after the Nepali Congress lawmakers did not allow the home minister to go to the rostrum.

After the postponement of the meeting, Speaker Devraj Ghimire held a meeting with the Chief Whips of the major political parties.

The meeting has been postponed till 11 am tomorrow.

The main opposition Nepali Congress is to obstruct the Parliament meeting.

A meeting of the Congress Parliamentary Party held this morning has decided not to allow the House to function if the parliamentary committee is not formed to probe cooperative fraud charges against Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Rabi Lamichhane, Chief Whip Ramesh Lekhak said.

He said that Home Minister Lamichhane was involved in misappropriating the cooperative funds.

Leader Lekhak was of the opinion that the Parliament cannot move ahead without forming a parliamentary probe committee.

He said that the government will be held responsible if the proceedings of the federal Parliament are obstructed.