KATHMANDU – The all-party meeting called by Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has urged the major opposition CPN UML to help run the parliament meeting smoothly.
The meeting held at PM’s residence Baluwatar on Sunday evening concluded that regular obstruction of the House of Representatives had badly affected the regular functions of parliament and people’s aspiration as well, so the people elected body must be continued, according to government spokesperson and Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Gyanendra Bahadur Karki.
The major opposition UML was however absent in the meeting. “Some significant bills and proposals were left pending due to continuous obstruction of parliament. The opposition party has important role to keep alive the parliamentary democracy”, he told media after the meeting and added, “It does not mean the presence of strong opposition is the obstruction to parliament business. Although parliament is the place to show objection, it waters down democracy and parliamentary practices once the parliament is taken hostage.”
Minister Karki further stated government was ready to hold dialogue and forge consensus to this regard. In response to a query relating to the US project, Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), Minister Karki shared that the parties attending the meeting had differing views on advancing the MCC. The discussion on it would be continued.
He observed that it was unfortunate that the major opposition CPN UML did not turn up the meeting called by PM Deuba. Similarly, leader of Nepal Workers and Peasants Party Prem Suwal said he called for scrapping the MCC agreement since its different points were infringing upon Nepal’s sovereignty.
He said that his party believes that the MCC is a US-led military alliance in the Indo-Pacific region. Asked about the disruption of House business, Suwal shared that he proposed either the lawmakers should get chance to speak in the House or the House proceedings should not be advanced during its disruption.
According to him, today’s meeting of the five-party alliance convened prior to the all-party meeting formed a taskforce to discuss the issues of MCC and others. Suwal stated that the CPN (Maoist Centre) and CPN (Unified Socialist) leaders argued to amend the MCC points before its ratification.
Maoist Centre Chairman Prachanda voiced for the MCC amendment and the issue was discussed at the meeting, Suwal shared. However, NC and Janata Samajwadi Party Nepal’s leaders were for advancing the MCC under its current position.
Prime Minister and NC President Deuba, government’s spokesperson Karki, NC Vice-President Purna Bahadur Khadka, leader Ram Chandra Poudel, Maoist Centre Chairman Prachanda, leader Narayan Kaji Shrestha, CPN (Unified Socialist) Chairman Madhav Kumar Nepal, senior leader Jhalanath Khanal and general secretary Beduram Bhusal were present at the meeting.
Also present at the meeting were Janata Samajwadi Party Nepal Chairman Upendra Yadav, party’s Federal Council Chairman Dr Baburam Bhattarai, Loktantrik Samajwadi Party Chairman Mahantha Thakur, leader of Nepal Workers and Peasants Party Prem Suwal and others.
