KATHMANDU, May 10: The meeting of the House of the Representatives (HoR) on Friday remained obstructed due to the protest from the main opposition Nepali Congress (NC). Speaker Devraj Ghimire has called the next meeting of the HoR for May 14 as NC continued with the protest. 

Earlier, the first meeting of the budget session of the HoR was postponed for 15 minutes owing to the obstructions from the NC and Loktantrik Samajbadi Party. Once the meeting resumed, NC lawmakers picketed the rostrum, reiterating the demand for the formation of a parliamentary committee to probe Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane’s alleged involvement in the misappropriation of cooperative funds.

As Speaker Ghimire allotted time to Home Minister Lamichhane, who is accused of having a role in the embezzlement of cooperative funds, to put forth his views, he was prevented by the opposition parties. Though the Speaker urged the protesting members to have their seats and listen to DPM Lamichhane, the opposition parties rejected the Speaker's call, prompting him to announce the adjournment of the meeting for May 14. 

Meanwhile, NC General Secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa has said his party would not allow running parliament until a parliamentary probe committee was formed to probe the alleged embezzlement of cooperative funds.

Putting forth his views in the HoR meeting, the first of the budget session that kicked off on Friday, the main opposition leader reiterated the party's demand. Speaker Ghimire allowed NC lawmaker Thapa to speak after his party and Loktantrik Samajbadi Party lawmakers left their seats in protest soon after the HoR meeting started.

Thapa made it clear that the NC would not cooperate with any activity of parliament till the demand for the formation of the parliamentary probe committee was met. "It is not the NC but the ruling parties that are responsible for House obstruction," he said, arguing the urgency to address the demand made by the opposition in parliament.

After Thapa put forth his views, his party’s lawmakers picketed the rostrum, making it difficult for Speaker Ghimire to even read out a letter received from the Office of the President.

 
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