The UML decided to boycott the parliament charging that the government failed to arrest the murderer of its cadre Prachanda Thaiba, prompting the main opposition to follow the suit. [break]
Before announcing a boycott, UML Chief Whip Bhim Acharya said the government has remained indifferent toward UML’s demand to arrest Sujit BK, the man accused of killing Thaiba.
Similarly, NC lawmaker Laxman Ghimire said his party felt it would be meaningless to be present at the meeting after the boycott by the major ruling coalition partner. “Moreover, the prime minister has failed to turn up at the parliament to address our genuine demands that we have been raising for months,” he said.
Following the boycott by the second largest ruling party and the main opposition, Speaker Subas Nembang adjourned the meeting till Wednesday afternoon.
Earlier, NC leader Dr Ram Sharan Mahat said the Maoist-led government has encouraged impunity, leading the country to anarchy and attacked the sports sector after attacking the judiciary and the national army.
“This is a serious issue because the PLA, which is under the Special Committee for Integration and Rehabilitation of Maoist Combatants, has insisted for its participation in the national games without prior consent from the special committee,” said Dr Mahat. PLA is not a recognized army organization. “How the PLA, a political force, can participate in sports and that too, at the eleventh hour?”
Mahat also lambasted the prime minister for making derogatory remarks against political party leaders. “The prime minister has failed to implement any of his past commitments including returning seized property and dissolving paramilitary structure of the YCL,” said Mahat. “All are equal in the eyes of law but this government thinks some are more equal than others.”
CPN-UML lawmaker Yam Lal Kandel accused the prime minister of giving protection to criminals. “How can the home minister maintain law and order when the prime minister himself protects criminals?” he questioned. “When the ruling party itself is involved in the crime, how is it possible to maintain law and order here?”
Maoist lawmaker Barsha Man Pun, however, objected to the allegations that prime minister’s office is being developed as a place for protecting criminals. Another Maoist lawmaker Agni Sapkota charged that the ruling and opposition parties are pushing the Maoists to the corner. “The Comprehensive Peace Accord states that the Nepal Army and PLA are both armies for protecting national sovereignty,” he said. “But attempts have been made to make the people slaves of judiciary and the army. People will not tolerate this.”
Tarai-Madhes Democratic Party leader Hridayesh Tripathi warned the authorities of the “ad-hoc” government against making long-term decisions. “It has only two duties — facilitate formulation of the constitution and maintain law and order,” said Tripathi. “But the government has failed to perform both the duties.” He also claimed the government cannot haphazardly interpret the constitutional clauses in its own favour. “How can the government interpret what are the major parties and which parties cannot participate in the Special Committee for the Integration and Rehabilitation of Maoist Combatants?” he argued.
Tripathi also criticized the prime minister for making “cheap speeches”. “We felt ashamed that our prime minister uses “cheap” words while speaking at public forums,” he said referring to the prime minister’s speech made at Tundikhel Monday.
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