UML to obstruct House if budget bills not passed first

Published On: July 21, 2016 02:10 AM NPT By: Republica | @RepublicaNepal

KATHMANDU, July 21: The ruling CPN-UML has warned that it would obstruct parliamentary proceedings if the speaker introduced the no-confidence motion in parliament without endorsing the remaining budget related bills.

A parliamentary party meeting of the party on Wednesday reached the conclusion that the party will obstruct parliament if the House Speaker does not give first priority to the budget-related bills.

“We are strongly against holding discussion on the no-confidence motion without first making it clear how the agenda item of endorsing the remaining three budget bills which had already been included in the business advisory on July 13 and 15 was suddenly removed,” he said, adding, “If the issue is not settled prior to holding discussion on the no-trust motion, we will obstruct the parliament.”

He said that the meeting has already directed all its lawmakers to be present in parliament on Thursday and remain prepared to obstruct the parliament if the speaker tries to move ahead without first settling the budget-related bills.

He also said that the party has decided to urge speaker Onsari Gharti to move ahead as per the constitution's values and principles.

Meanwhile, CPN (Maoist Centre) has issued whip to its lawmakers to vote in favor of the no-confidence motion registered in parliament against Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.

A parliamentary party meeting of the Maoist Center at Singha Durbar on Wednesday has directed all its lawmakers to be present in the Thursday parliament meeting and vote in favor of the no-confidence motion.

Maoist Center chief whip Hitraj Pandey said that the meeting has also decided to urge lawmakers of other parties in parliament as well as independent lawmakers to actively take part in the discussion in parliament on no-confidence motion and vote in favor of the no-confidence motion.

He also said the party has also decided to continue talks with all the political parties for forming a new consensus government and creating a favorable environment for implementing the new constitution.