Task Force Fails to Agree on TOR for Probe Committee

In a deadlock that prolongs the impasse, the task force entrusted with crafting the Terms of Reference (TOR) for the parliamentary investigation committee convened once more but concluded without consensus. The meeting, held at Singha Durbar on Thursday afternoon, saw the Nepali Congress (NC) steadfast in its demand to include Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane’s name in the TOR, a move contested by the ruling alliance.

Chief Whips Mahesh Bartaula of CPN-UML and Santosh Pariyar of Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) indicated the NC might reconsider its stance in the upcoming session slated for Friday at 7 AM, with hopes of finalizing the TOR. However, Jeevan Pariyar, the Deputy General Secretary of the NC, reiterated the party’s unwavering position on including Home Minister Lamichhane, signaling no retreat from their demand.

The genesis of the deadlock lies in the opposing views on jurisdiction, preventing the task force from forging a path forward. The ruling alliance comprising CPN (Maoist Center), CPN-UML, and RSP, remains resolute in rejecting the NC’s insistence.

The ongoing tug-of-war has further fueled the obstruction of parliamentary sessions by the opposition, echoing their call for the formation of the probe committee targeting Home Minister Lamichhane.

Chaired by Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Padam Giri, the task force includes lawmakers Shishir Khanal from Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), Jeevan Pariyar from Nepali Congress, and Mahesh Bartaula from CPN-UML. Despite their collective efforts, the divergence in opinions persists, prolonging the deadlock and leaving the fate of the TOR hanging in uncertainty.