Kathmandu, May 18:
Top leaders of the ruling and main opposition parties have reached an agreement to form a committee to probe cooperative scams.
The decision was made during a meeting convened by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal at the prime minister’s residence on Saturday. Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, CPN-UML chair KP Sharma Oli, and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Rabi Lamichhane, among other leaders, attended the meeting.
However, whether the committee will focus on the accusations levelled at Lamichhane or will be given a broader jurisdiction to study the overall cooperative problems of the country is not yet clear.
According to NC Chief Whip Ramesh Lekhak, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Padam Giri will facilitate the formation of the committee.
“Discussions regarding tomorrow’s parliamentary proceedings were held in the meeting today. The House meetings will move forward smoothly,” Lekhak said. “The parties have reached a consensus to form a probe committee, and this should be taken positively.”
The terms of reference for the committee will be decided on by the working committee on Sunday, he added.
The Congress has been obstructing House proceedings, demanding a parliamentary committee to investigate Rastriya Swantantra Party Chair Lamichhane over allegations of cooperative funds embezzlement.
Despite multiple meetings and back-channel negotiations on Friday, the ruling and opposition parties had failed to narrow down their differences over the formation of the parliamentary panel. Short of an understanding, meetings of both chambers of Parliament were put off until Sunday.
– The Kathmandu Post
