They sought the prime minister´s clarification over the Bhanadari issue and demanded that the outgoing minister Prabhu Sah, who stepped down following accusations of involvement in murder, be brought to book.[break]
Speaker Subas Nembang adjourned the House meeting Monday after lawmakers from NC, UML and other small parties obstructed the meeting by rising from their seats.
Prior to that Ramesh Lekhak of the NC and Raghubir Mahaseth of UML addressed the meeting demanding the Bhandari´s resignation and the prime minister´s clarification over the controversies.
While the opposition parties have been obstructing parliamentary proceedings since Friday demanding resignation of controversial ministers Bhandari and Sah, the UCPN (Maoist) recalled the Minister for Land Reform Sah Sunday.
Opposition lawmakers demanded dismissal of Bhandari for his controversial remark that the 22 Tarai districts can secede and no constitution or law can stop them from doing so. They also demanded that the prime minister ensure parliament that an independent probe would be conducted into Sah´s alleged involvement in the murder case.
They criticized the prime minister for remaining mum and helpless for so many days instead of sacking the defense minister immediately after the latter made such serious remarks against national sovereignty.
Lekhak demanded that Bhandari be immediately sacked and a case be filed against him for his ´treasonable offence´.
Reading out some provisions of the act on the treason and punishment at parliament meeting on Monday, he said the defense minister´s act is tantamount to jeopardizing the harmonious relations subsisting among the people of various castes and communities.
"According to the act, any individual found guilty should be given three years jail and fined three thousands rupees," a lawyer-turned lawmaker Lekhak argued at the parliament meeting.
He argued that the opposition parties have smelt a rat in the prime minister´s silence for days.
"The prime minister sacked Sah on Sunday only after being compelled to do so. The way he tried to protect him and influence the case in the initial days provides an ample ground for us to suspect that Bhattarai might be indirectly involved in the case," Lekhak argued. "Therefore, the prime minister must clarify all these things before parliament."
Mahaseth of UML also fiercely criticized the prime minister for the delay in sacking Bhandari. "If the prime minister fails to relieve Bhandari of the duties, it will be clear that the former is also behind the minister´s act," said Mahaseth.
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