Opposition parties stall HoR proceedings, calling for Home Minister's resignation

Kathmandu, May 27: The opposition parties in parliament have taken a stance that they will not allow the proceedings of the House of Representatives (HoR) to move forward until Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak resigns.

After the Speaker Devaraj Ghimire commenced today’s session of the House of Representatives, all opposition party MPs stood up to express their protest. After that, the Speaker gave speaking time to the Member of Parliament, Barsha Man Pun from the CPN (Maoist Centre).

Lawmaker Pun called attention to the fact that the media have reported this week about corruption in the 'visit visa' process at Tribhuvan International Airport, stating as per the reports ordinary citizens who go abroad for work are being charged between 5 million to 30 million rupees.

The main opposition party's demand is that an investigation should be conducted into the allegation that the Home Minister himself sent the main accused, Joint Secretary Tirtharaj Bhattarai, at the TIA.

"Since the Home Minister's Secretariat is involved in this and as all the investigating bodies are under the Home Ministry, the Home Minister should resign to facilitate the investigation. He must resign, and the parliamentary proceedings will not be allowed to proceed ahead until the Home Minister resigns," said MP Pun.

Immediately after the commencement of today's meeting, opposition parties including the CPN (Maoist Centre), Rastriya Swatantra Party, and the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) obstructed the house demanding the resignation of the Home Minister.

After the obstruction by the opposition, Speaker Ghimire adjourned the meeting for half an hour.

Prior to this, the Speaker had allocated time for the Chief Whip of the Nepali Congress, Shyam Ghimire, to speak on behalf of the ruling party. 

The MPs of Rastriya Swatantra Party had raised slogans to prevent the ruling party MP from speaking. Opposition party MPs prevented the ruling party MPs from speaking, chanting slogans demanding the resignation of Home Minister.

Rastriya Swatantra Party lawmaker Shishir Khanal demanded the formation of a high-level investigation commission regarding the involvement of Home Minister Lekhak in the 'Visit Visa' scam.

He mentioned that the opposition would not allow the House to go ahead with its proceedings until a high-level investigation commission is formed in connection with the 'organized corruption' in that matter.

"At Tribhuvan International Airport, a racket is being run under the guise of visit visas, looting innocent youths and collecting millions illegally. The joint secretary sent by the Home Minister to the TIA seems to have a controversial background. But why was he sent to TIA immigration? The Home Minister has his own interests involved too," lawmaker Khanal charged. (RSS)