House proceeding resumes after CPN-UML and Maoist Centre reach a deal

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, June 14: Meeting of the House of Representatives resumed on Friday, following an agreement between the ruling CPN-UML, and the main opposition CPN (Maoist Centre), ending an 18-day deadlock. 

The agreement was signed between Chief whip of the CPN (UML), Mahesh Kumar Bartaula and chief whip of the main opposition CPN (Maoist) Centre), Hitraj Pandey today.

However, the resumption resulted in a rift among the opposition parties, which were obstructing the House proceedings demanding the resignation of Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak and formation of a committee to investigate the visit visa scam. 

However, Friday's session that began after the ruling CPN-UML and the main opposition CPN-Maoist Centre inked a two-point agreement, was marked by protests from the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) and Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), which continued demanding the resignation of Home Minister Lekhak.

The two-point agreement pledged the government’s cooperation with the ongoing investigation by the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) and committed to formulating new policies to curb human trafficking under the guise of visit visa.

When the Maoist Centre entered into dialogue and agreement with the ruling coalition, the RSP and RPP refused to allow the session to run smoothly. 

Speaking to the press outside the Federal Parliament, Maoist-Centre Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ sought to ease tensions, stating that RSP would go their own way for a few days, but insisted there were no disagreements or accusations between the parties. 

Meanwhile, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, who was denied to address the House till Thursday, claimed that a politically motivated conspiracy is being waged against him, alleging that attempts have been made to register fake complaints in his name at various party offices. 

Speaking during Friday’s meeting of the House of Representatives, Minister Lekhak said that so-called victims were being brought to party offices to file false complaints as part of a targeted campaign.

"I know complaints are being written in specific party offices by presenting fake victims," he said. He warned that action would be taken against those involved in fabricating such cases. "These fraudulent acts must stop," he added, accusing certain political parties of carrying out a smear campaign to fulfil their ambitions.

Referring to the recent visit visa case, Lekhak maintained he had not involvement in it and assured full cooperation with the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA). "There is no truth in the claims circulated in society and social media," he said, expressing deep regret over the situation.

When the parliamentary session proceeded, lawmakers from the RSP and RPP shouted slogans and demanded Minister Lekhak’s resignation, while others continued with the day’s agenda.

Despite Lekhak’s defence, RSP and RPP lawmakers disrupted proceedings repeatedly. While Speaker Dev Raj Ghimire tried to maintain order, the opposition continued demanding the minister’s resignation and the creation of an independent parliamentary probe.

Notably, RPP Chair Rajendra Lingden delivered a pointed critique of the government’s role in the scandal. 

“This is not governance, this is collusion to protect a looting regime,” he said. RSP's Manish Jha echoed the sentiment, accusing the Home Ministry of facilitating human trafficking and deliberately relocating implicated employees to avoid scrutiny. 

“The setting has become international,” Jha said, insisting the scandal had reached a scale that required international attention and justice.

Meanwhile, CPN (Maoist Centre) Chief Whip Hitraj Pandey, who has been pressing the issue since May 27, called for structural reforms in Nepal’s immigration and visa systems. He urged the House to address public concerns with transparency, and warned that the credibility of the government itself was on the line. The next session of the House is scheduled for June 15, Sunday at 11 am.