It is against democracy to obstruct parliament business: PM Oli

Kathmandu, June 2: Prime Minister and CPN (UML) Chairperson, KP Sharma Oli, has said it is against democracy for the opposition to cause obstruction in the parliament business, making the unnecessary issue demanding Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak's resignation.     

Addressing the CPN (UML) parliamentary party meeting held in Baneshwar today, he stated that regular activities of the Parliament will commence from Tuesday.     

"I have been trying to talk to the Chairperson of the main opposition party, the CPN (Maoist Centre), Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', on holding regular parliament sessions from Tuesday, but he was not available. They may be in a mood of not holding talks and dialogue, but in a mood to stall the house business. Such behaviour does not always work. The parliament cannot always be held hostage like this,” said Prime Minister Oli.     

Accusing the opposition parties of demanding the Home Minister's resignation as they have no other issues and when there is no complaint filed against him or an ongoing investigation, he said the parliament business should not be obstructed over such a matter. PM Oli added that the parliament business will resume from tomorrow.     

According to Prime Minister Oli, actions like rushing to support a group hitting the street with certain demands and blocking the parliament business would assist the regression and be uncooperative towards democracy.     

Stating that since the government’s budget is presented in a critical juncture when the country is passing through specific circumstances, PM Oli urged the MPs to present their arguments in favour of it and instructed the ministers to give importance to parliamentary activities.     

He said the budget has come in a completely different challenging situation when the economy is declining and when dissenters are protesting, adding that the monarchy is not even the subject of today's debate.     

The Prime Minister said, "In today's society, advocating for a lineage tradition of being born a king and a mentality of servitude is foolishness. Elected representatives in India, China, and America are running the state affairs. In some countries, the monarchy survived, albeit in a limited position. There is no scientific or judicial basis for monarchy in the world. I feel pity seeing the consciousness levels of those who talk about reinstating monarchy in Nepal at such a time."     

Stressing that society should be governed as per the law and constitution, he said people are above the parties, and they are the source of all state authority. "Even if the anarchists and dissidents claim to create a situation similar to what happened in the  recent past in Sri Lanka or Bangladesh, one must understand that the way out is only by returning to democracy in those countries."     

Stating that some sides have been manifesting agitation, anxiety and frustration as they had to exit from power, the PM said this indicates that there still are tendencies trying to undermine the good work of the government and seeking to make it unsuccessful.     

"We are under attack as we are in the leadership of the government. We have been targeted with focused attacks, whereas the reality is that we have prevented the country from going downhill. We have done good work in all sectors. We will continue to move forward more effectively for development and good governance," Prime Minister Oli asserted. (RSS)