State Affairs Committee meeting: Chair Khatiwada and MP Thani exchange heated words

Kathmandu, January 6 — A heated argument erupted between Ramhari Khatiwada, Chair of the Parliamentary State Affairs and Good Governance Committee, and committee member Hridayaram Thani, both MPs from the ruling Nepali Congress, during Monday's meeting.

The altercation occurred after Thani expressed concerns about the lack of progress on several important bills, stating, "The Constitutional Council Bill is lying dormant in Parliament, and the Anti-Corruption Bill is in the ICU in the committee."

In response, Khatiwada interrupted Thani, saying, "Your committee has not given many suggestions." This sparked further tension, with Thani growing agitated and retorting, "You speak in the committee. Are you going to overtake me? I won't speak." Thani reminded Khatiwada that he, too, had once held the position of committee chair, adding, "I came from that chair."

After the exchange, Khatiwada allowed Thani to speak, but Thani chose not to respond. To ease the situation, CPN (UML) MP Krishna Gopal Shrestha intervened, urging both to remain calm.

He suggested, "We should avoid escalating such matters. The chair must not speak in a way that breaks the flow of conversation."

The committee meeting, which was convened to discuss petitions and complaints received by the committee, also saw MP Rajendra Rai questioning Khatiwada’s leadership.

Rai criticized Khatiwada’s management, saying, “Where is your stance? It’s missing. Your secretariat is failing. If you fail, we fail. The secretariat's work is zero.” He also urged Khatiwada to address the issues raised in the complaints more efficiently.

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