Parliament to Halt Until Probe Committee on Home Minister is Formed, Asserts Sitaula

The National Assembly will not conduct any sessions until a parliamentary probe committee is formed to investigate allegations against Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane, declared Krishna Prasad Sitaula, the Parliamentary Party (PP) leader of the Nepali Congress in the National Assembly.

During a speech in the Friday afternoon session of the National Assembly, Sitaula firmly stated that the legislative body will stand still until the committee is established to look into the cooperative fund embezzlement case involving Home Minister Lamichhane.

“A meeting of the Nepali Congress PP earlier today concluded unanimously that we will halt the proceedings of both the houses until the probe committee is set up,” Sitaula conveyed to the assembly.

Sitaula also criticized the Attorney General, accusing him of exonerating Home Minister Lamichhane prematurely and thereby posing an additional hurdle to the committee’s formation. “It is paradoxical that the Home Minister himself is obstructing the establishment of this investigation committee. Moreover, it is unprecedented in our history that the Judiciary has been implicated in this controversy,” he added.

The Nepali Congress leader emphasized that their demand does not include the resignation of Home Minister Lamichhane at this juncture. “Our sole focus is on thorough investigation through the proper parliamentary channels,” Sitaula clarified.

The standoff underscores a significant political crisis with potential implications on the governance and legal integrity in Nepal, putting pressure on various political factions and legal bodies involved. The Nepali Congress, standing firm on its demand for transparency and accountability, seems prepared for a prolonged parliamentary halt, aiming to ensure comprehensive investigation into the allegations.