KATHMANDU, Jan 6: The meeting of the State Affairs and Good Governance committee of the parliament on Monday was stalled briefly as the committee chairman Ramhari Khatiwada and committee member Hridaya Ram Thani exchanged heated arguments with each other.
After Thani said that many bills were lying dormant in parliament, Thani and chairman Khatiwada got into a heated debate during the question and answer session.
“The Constitutional Council Bill is dormant in the parliament and the CIAA Bill is in the ICU (Intensive Care Unit),” Thani expressed concern over the non-progress of the bills. Chairman Khatiwada intervened and replied, “It has been long since your sub-committee presented suggestions.”
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Enraged by lawmaker Khatiwada’s remark, MP Thani said, “Are you overtaking my position as a member of the committee?” He reminded MP Khatiwada not to underestimate him since he also has the experience of leading a parliamentary committee. “I have chaired a parliamentary committee too,” Thani said.
MP Khatiwada then allocated time for MP Thani to speak. But MP Thani refused to speak. MP Krishna Gopal Shrestha from CPN-UML tried to convince both of them to speak.
“This exchange should not be understood otherwise,” lawmaker Shrestha said, “When the chairman of the committee interrupts the conversation in a way that breaks the chain of conversation, it naturally creates conflict.”
MP Rajendra Rai also raised questions on chairman Khatiwada. He said, “Chairman, what is your stand? If you cannot improve your workflow, you have failed. When you fail, the entire committee fails.”
Monday’s meeting of the State Affairs and Good Governance Committee had been called to discuss the petitions and complaints received by the committee. MP Rai urged MP Khatiwada to do homework on the issue of complaints as well.
