CPN-UML boycotts an all-party meeting called by Speaker Sapkota to resolve parliament obstruction

Published On: September 13, 2021 04:19 PM NPT By: Republica | @RepublicaNepal

KAHMANDU, Sept 13: The main opposition party, CPN-UML, has boycotted the all-party meeting called by Speaker Agni Prasad Sapkota on Monday.

The UML has maintained that the Speaker Sapkota should either announce dismissal of 14 former UML lawmakers as recommended by the party or step down to pave the way for the election of new speaker of the House of Representatives (HoR).

The UML has been obstructing the HoR meetings alleging that Speaker Sapkota had acted in biased manner against the UML's recommendations to dismiss 14 lawmakers including Madhav Kumar Nepal.

The meeting called to put an end to the CPN-UML’s agitation in the parliament sessions began at 2:30 PM at the federal parliament building in New Baneshwar. The meeting is being attended by Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, CPN(Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, CPN (Unified Socialist) Chairman Madhav Kumar Nepal and Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP) Chairman Upendra Yadav.

Democratic Socialist Party Chairman Mahantha Thakur, Nepal People's Front (NPF) Vice Chairperson Durga Paudel, Nepal Workers and Peasants Party (NWPP) Secretary Prem Suwal and Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Gyanendra Bahadur Karki are also among those participating in the meeting.

The all-party meeting is expected to discuss ways to effectively advance the parliament session and other contemporary issues. Top leaders of all political parties, who represent their parties in the federal parliament, have been invited to the meeting.

The parliament session has been put off till September 14 amid protests of the UML lawmakers. The UML has been obstructing the parliament meeting alleging that the Speaker Sapkota had allowed lawmakers dismissed earlier by the party to take part in the meeting.