BIRATNAGAR, May 27: Opposition lawmakers again obstructed proceedings in the Koshi Provincial Assembly on Wednesday, accusing the Speaker of denying them time to register amendment proposals on the government’s policy and programme.
The disruption began shortly after the assembly session started, when lawmakers from the opposition Nepal Communist Party rose from their seats in protest.
Following the protest, Speaker Ambar Bahadur Bista allowed opposition parliamentary party leader Indra Bahadur Angwo to address the assembly.
Koshi Province Assembly passes finance bill
Angwo accused the Speaker of endorsing the policy and programme without allowing opposition lawmakers to present amendments despite their objections. He demanded that the document be declared passed by majority vote rather than unanimously.
Tensions escalated after a dispute broke out between the Speaker and opposition lawmakers. As the Speaker attempted to continue the assembly proceedings amid protests, opposition lawmaker and former Koshi Chief Minister Rajendra Rai rushed toward the Speaker’s podium in anger and climbed onto the rostrum.
Assembly marshals intervened and stopped Rai before he could reach the Speaker.
