NC, RJPN lawmakers demand formation of parliamentary committee to probe Sarlahi incidents

KATHMANDU, July 29: Lawmakers of the main opposition parties Nepali Congress (NC) and the Rastriya Janata Party Nepal (RJPN) has obstructed meeting of the House of the Representatives on Monday demanding the formation of a parliamentary committee to deal with the issues related to deaths of Kumar Poudel and Kewal Mahato in Sarlahi.

Once the meeting kicked off, the NC and RJP-N lawmakers stood from their respective seats, demanding the formation of a parliamentary committee.

Amidst this, Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara informed the House that the session was entering into a regular agenda.

The agitating lawmakers moved towards the rostrum, chanting slogans.

They have demanded the formation of a parliamentary committee to investigate the issues relating to the killings of Kumar Poudel on June 20 in police action and Mahato on June 30 in a clash between the police and locals demonstrating against the death of a 12-year-old child Amit Raya after falling into a water pit developed in the aftermath of illegal sand mining.

Poudel was the district (Sarlahi) in-charge of outlawed Communist Party of Nepal led by Netra Bikram Chand ‘ Biplav’. The group has been banned by the government since March for security reasons while the child had fallen into the pit formed during the illegal quarrying.

Mahato who had joined the mass demonstration against the child’s death had died in the clash with the police.

Speaker Mahara urged the House members to enable an environment to run parliament and to let discussions be held to maintain parliamentary supremacy.

Stating that the government and parliament had paid attention to the issues raised by the parliamentarians, Mahara urged the protesting parliamentarians to be seated in their respective seats.

Stating that deliberation on many national issues could not be held due to disruption in parliament, he appealed the parliamentarians not to spare any time.

The NC and RJPN parliamentarians continued to chant slogans and protest disobeying the Speaker’s request and sought the parliamentary supremacy.

The session that started at 1:00 pm was adjourned due to the continuous protest. The next meeting of the HoR is scheduled for July 31 at 11:00 am. RSS