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Kathmandu Sunday February 18, 2001 Falgun 07, 2057.
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House impasse may cost democracy: Speaker
Post Report
KATHMANDU, Feb 17 - Speaker of the House of Representatives Tara Nath
Ranabhat today warned that the continuing disruption in House could cost the nation its
nearly 11-year-old democracy.
He said, "The Prime Minister (Girija Prasad Koirala) has already
challenged the Opposition parties to oust him constitutionally. If the PM feels extremely
impatient then the Parliament could be dissolved. Or else, the ongoing impasse in the
House could cost us our nearly 11-year-old democracy within next seven days. That’s
what my instinct tells."
Ranabhat was addressing a function here Saturday, which was organized to mark
the 51 National Democracy Day.
His comments came two days after the House adjourned till Monday. Since the
winter session of the 19th session of Parliament started last Friday, the House has
remained tense with the lawmakers of the opposition parties trooping onto the rostrum and
demanding Koirala’s resignation. They have been charging Koirala of involving himself
in the controversial RNAC-Lauda Air deal.
The House is due to re-convene from Monday.
On the state of Parliament and the ruling party, he said, "The three
dozen-odd ministers do not want to comment on the present parliamentary exercise. And the
remaining 37 to 40 dissatisfied ruling party lawmakers are sitting mum, and are not in a
position to oppose the Opposition party lawmakers’ demand."
A visibly depressed Ranabhat also warned that the jungle force (underground
Maoists) could soon make it to the streets. "I am foreseeing that absolute darkness
which lies a little bit ahead of us," he said.
Meanwhile, in another development, the dissatisfied lawmakers of the ruling
Nepali Congress met veteran leader and former prime minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai.
They are understood to have put their case loud and clear: that there cannot
be any other alternative to the PM’s resignation to end the House impasse.
The friend-turned-foe of the NC President and PM had also invited a few
incumbent ministers and opposition party lawmakers at today’s meeting. They include,
Ram Krishna Tamrakar, Kamala Panta, Siddha Raj Ojha, Suresh Malla and Surendra Hamal.
Prior to this, the septuagenarian leader had invited intellectuals for
discussions, during which the latter had called on Bhattarai to initiate steps to end the
House deadlock.
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