PM expresses frustration with UML over parliament obstruction

‘Those who dissolved parliament did not allow it to run smoothly’

KATHMANDU, August 16 : Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has stated that conspiracies are being hatched from various quarters to derail the current constitutional course because the government has taken proactive measures to combat corruption.

“It appears that these actions are intended to undermine the constitution, hinder the smooth functioning of the government, and redirect the country,” said Prime Minister Dahal during a discussion with a group of editors at his official residence in Baluwatar on Tuesday. “In the past, the parliament was frequently disrupted, and now it is not being allowed to function properly.”

Prime Minister Dahal revealed that they had reached an agreement with opposition parties, going beyond the constitutional norms to ensure the smooth operation of parliament.

Prime Minister Dahal expressed disappointment that the agreement reached with the UML, even by bending the constitutional limits, was breached. He also disclosed that an agreement was in place to grant the UML the chairmanship of three parliamentary committees, as outlined in the agreement between Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman and Prime Minister Dahal, and UML Chairman K P Oli.

“We exhibited extreme flexibility in reaching an agreement in the hopes of resuming parliamentary activities. However, parliament did not reconvene,” he stated. “The mindset of past parliamentary dissolution is clearly evident.”

In reference to the ongoing obstruction of parliament by the main opposition party, Prime Minister Dahal alleged that the party that repeatedly dissolved the parliament appears to be deliberately disrupting its functioning. “The party that frequently dissolved parliament seems to have a desire to hinder the smooth operation of parliament,” he remarked. “Is this not a continuation of the same pattern?”

Prime Minister Dahal pointed out that the UML's ongoing obstruction of parliament, despite the agreement to resume activities, holds symbolic significance. He also shared the challenges he encountered while initiating investigations into the fake Bhutanese refugee scam, Lalita Niwas land grab scam, and gold smuggling cases.

Prime Minister Dahal clarified that the investigation into the fake Bhutanese refugee case had commenced even before his government came into power and that the investigation of the Lalita Niwas land grab scam had been expedited during the tenure of then-Prime Minister K P Oli. He argued that the recent investigations into these cases are not related to the UML's obstruction of parliament.

“The government has aimed to assure the people by advancing in the direction of good governance, social justice, and prosperity,” he asserted. “The discovery of the fake Bhutanese refugee scam was an outcome of our commitment to combat corruption.”

Prime Minister Dahal noted that the investigation into the Lalita Niwas land grab scam was initiated to discourage similar fraudulent transfers of government-owned land into the names of private individuals across the country. Nevertheless, he expressed dissatisfaction with the recent court ruling that holds even those involved in policy-level decisions accountable.

“I do not intend to disrespect the court,” he clarified. “However, it appears that the current prime minister and ministers are left with limited authority following the court’s decision to hold policy-makers accountable. There is a clear demarcation of jurisdiction and autonomy among all three branches of government. This decision hinders even tasks that were possible before.”

Dahal's comments come in response to the Supreme Court's order for the government to investigate former prime ministers Madhav Kumar Nepal and Dr Baburam Bhattarai in connection with the Lalita Niwas land grab scam.

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Anyone involved in gold smuggling will be booked regardless of their party affiliation

Prime Minister Dahal reiterated that anyone found guilty in gold smuggling cases including from his own party will be booked. This comes amid allegations from the opposition parties that the Dahal-led government was trying to protect Maoist leader Krishna Bahadur Mahara and his son allegedly involved in the gold smuggling racket.

Prime Minister Dahal revealed that there was involvement of police, senior bureaucrats and politicians in the gold smuggling cases. Prime Minister Dahal said that he had personally taken initiatives to bust the gold smuggling racket after learning that smuggling was taking place from Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA).

On the occasion, Dahal complained that the UML had resorted to parliament obstruction instead of appreciating him for the efforts to bust the gold smuggling racket.