Prez Poudel asks P M to respect opposition’s role and not to adopt dual ‘standards’

Kathmandu, 24 May: President Ram Chandra Poudel has expressed concern over the stalemate in Parliament and warned that such a conflict between the ruling and treasury sides may discredit the parliamentary system itself.

President Poudel’s a bit ‘stern’ advice came during his meeting with Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda who had gone to Shitawal Niwas for a customary briefing on the budget which has to be presented in the House of Representative mandatorily.

According to an aide of the President, the discussion revolved round the ongoing impasse in the House and the government move to bring legislation making splits in the political parties easier.

The Nepali Congress and the Maoist Party had opposed such a law from the opposition together when such a law had been put forward by the K P Oli government earlier.

PM Prachanda is believed to have assured the President that the government is not against probing the corruption charges against Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichane in the cooperative scam but only expecting the opposition to be more pragmatic.

The ruling coalition is determined to start the debate and pass the thanks motion to the President’s address to the joint session of parliament even if the opposition continued creating ‘noises’ in the House today.