KATHMANDU, April 8: A meeting held by Speaker Devraj Ghimire with the top leaders of the four major political parties concluded inconclusively.

The meeting ended without reaching a consensus after the ruling parties rejected the demand put forth by the main opposition party Nepali Congress (NC) to form a parliamentary inquiry committee to probe Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane.

As Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane has been accused of misappropriating funds from cooperatives, the NC has been demanding that a parliamentary inquiry committee be formed to investigate the matter.

In today’s meeting, NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba and Chief Whip Ramesh Lekhak clearly presented the demands of the party. They asked the ruling parties to take the demand of investigation as a natural demand as questions had been raised. They warned that the failure to do so would result in the obstruction of parliamentary proceedings.

"We have made it clear that we demand a parliamentary inquiry committee. The government has presented itself very irresponsibly.  It will be responsible if the parliamentary proceedings do not move forward smoothly now," said NC Chief Whip Lekhak after the meeting.

UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli did not attend the meeting. On behalf of UML, Vice Chairman Bishnu Paudel and Chief Whip Mahesh Bartaula participated. In reply to the NC’s demand to form a committee, Bartaula said that the demand is not justified.

“We have clearly said that the demand lacks justification. We cannot agree to it. There is no alternative. Tomorrow's agenda will proceed as scheduled," he said.

Maoist Center Chief Whip Hitraj Pandey further announced that the Home Minister would address the House of Representatives meeting on Tuesday.

Following the departure of NC, UML leaders, and Speaker Ghimire, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal held discussions with Lamichhane.

 
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