KATHMANDU, Jan 29: There are signs of confrontation between the ruling parties and the opposition in the House of Representatives over the approval of six recently issued ordinances. The agenda for the first meeting on January 31 is set to allow party-based opinions and submit the ordinances.
Although the main opposition party, the Maoist Center, and the opposition Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) appear willing to allow the first meeting to proceed smoothly, they are preparing to strongly oppose the meeting where the ordinances will be presented for approval. The approval agenda is scheduled for the second meeting of the House of Representatives.
Following a meeting of the Business Advisory Committee on Tuesday, a work schedule was made to propose the ordinances for approval on February 6. Earlier, the Speaker had set a preliminary schedule for ordinance approval on February 4.
Santosh Pariyar, the chief whip of the RSP, said that a proposal for ordinance approval will be tabled in the House meeting on February 6, as requested by opposition MPs. The six ordinances, recently issued, amend 13 laws. After approval, replacement bills must be passed within 60 days. The government has assured that the replacement bills will be introduced as soon as possible.
The ruling parties plan to approve the ordinances with the support of a majority in the House. Nepali Congress MP Ramhari Khatiwada said, "It is possible to disagree with the ordinances, and they could be rejected with a majority vote." However, since the opposition lacks a majority, they may resort to protests, a House boycott, or a sit-in, according to parliament secretariat sources.
The Maoist Center and the RSP have called a parliamentary party meeting on Thursday. Sources indicate that these parties are preparing to strongly oppose the ordinances. As the government is expected to immediately register the replacement bills after the ordinances are approved, this issue may disrupt the entire session.
During Tuesday’s Business Advisory Committee meeting, a dispute arose between NC Chief Whip Shyam Kumar Ghimire and Maoist Center Chief Whip Hitraj Pandey regarding the ordinances. Ghimire clarified that his statement in the meeting was exaggerated.
Ghimire said, "The Maoist Center Chief Whip claimed that the country would now be run by ordinances, but that statement was exaggerated. Given the slow pace of lawmaking in parliament, with only 11 laws passed in the last two years, the government decided to bring ordinances. However, the Maoist Chief Whip interpreted it differently." Pandey countered, stating that Ghimire had indicated that since the bill was not brought to the House, an ordinance would be introduced.
Likewise, Pandey said, "Previously, parliament itself was dissolved. Now, in such a short time, are they trying to govern through ordinances? This is the concern I raised."
According to the schedule released after the Business Advisory Committee meeting, the first meeting will be held on January 31 and the second on February 6. After the second meeting approves the ordinances, the Law, Justice, and Human Rights Committee will present the related legislation report on February 7. The Finance Committee will present the Banking Offenses and Punishments (Second Amendment) Bill report on February 9 and the Secure Transactions (First Amendment) Bill report on February 10. The State Affairs and Good Governance Committee will present the Corruption Prevention (First Amendment) Bill report on February 11.