The opposition parties demanded dismissal of Defense Minister Sarat Singh Bhandari for his remarks that people from 22 Tarai districts may declare secession and that no constitution or law can stop them from doing so, and Minister for Land Reform Prabhu Sah for his alleged involvement in the murder of Hindu Yuwa Sangh leader Kashinath Tiwari in Birgunj last year.[break]
"Both the ministers should be immediately sacked. Otherwise, we will be compelled to take any move to obstruct parliament proceedings," said main opposition leader Ram Chandra Paudel of NC at the parliament meeting on Thursday.
Paudel said several irrefutable evidences have been gathered one after another establishing that Minister Sah masterminded Tiwari´s murder. He accused the government of making a mockery of rule of law.
Paudel criticized the prime minister for remaining silent even as two senior ministers in his cabinet face serious accusations. "While the prime minister is trying to eyewash the public undertaking some populist steps on trivial affairs, he has in fact been running the government with support from big criminals and traitors," Paudel speaking in parliament accused the prime minister, who was present there.
CPN-UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal termed the defense minister´s statement as seriously objectionable.
"A minister who publicly calls for dividing the country has no right to remain in the government even for a minute. The prime minister must sack him without any delay," said former Prime Minister Khanal as Singh listened. Khanal said the presence of the defense minister at the House meeting itself was disrespect to parliament.
He demanded that the prime minister sack Sah without any delay and create an environment conducive for a thorough investigation into the allegation.
Both the leaders -- Paudel and Khanal -- fiercely criticized the prime minister for failing to sack Sah even after a Nepal Police investigation showed his direct involvement in the case. "If the government doesn´t believe in the investigation carried out by police who will do this. Should it be done by a political party or its politburo," asked Khanal.
Also, Ram Sharan Mahat of NC, Bhim Acharya of CPN-UML, Chitra Bahadur KC of Rastriya Janamorcha (RJ), Dr Prakash Chandra Lohani of Rastriya Janashakti Party (RJP) and Nawaraj Koirala of Nepal Workers and Peasants Party (NWPP), among other lawmakers, criticized the prime minister for failing to take action against the ministers.
No sooner than Speaker Subas Nembang tried to discuss new business in parliament, UML Chief Whip Acharya rose from his seat and said the opposition lawmakers wouldn´t let the House to proceed until the prime minister sacked the two ministers and clarified before the House meeting about the cases.
After that, all lawmakers from NC, UML, NWPP, RJP, RJ and CPN-ML and other small parties in the opposition bench rose from their respective seats in protest and the speaker adjourned the meeting until for Sunday.
The leaders also demanded probe into Health Minister Rajendra Mahato, who has been accused of distributing money to journalists in an attempt to influence them.
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