CPN UML Parliamentary Party Leader Ram Bahadur Thapa's Words Removed from Record; Speaker Asked for Clarification

Kathmandu. CPN UML has demanded that the Speaker provide information about which words spoken by its parliamentary party leader Ram Bahadur Thapa were unparliamentary.

In the House of Representatives meeting held on Wednesday, UML Chief Whip Ain Mahar sought clarification from Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal regarding the same. Earlier, Speaker Aryal had instructed the Parliament Secretariat to remove words used by UML leader Thapa from the record, deeming them disrespectful and unparliamentary.

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Speaking in the meeting, Chief Whip Mahar, citing Rule 21 (d) of the House of Representatives Regulations, questioned which words spoken by their leader were inappropriate. He stated, 'Rule 21 (d) of the House of Representatives Regulations explains about unparliamentary and inappropriate words. Regarding this matter, the Speaker asked to remove the words spoken by our party leader from the parliamentary record. I want to know, which words were inappropriate? Did our leader say such inappropriate words? I want that information.'

Mahar also raised questions about the expressions used by ruling party MPs, not just UML's words. He demanded that words like ' भरौटे' (bharoute - stooge/lackey) and 'आसेपासे' (asepase - close associates/henchmen) used by Ganesh Parajuli, Deputy Leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party's parliamentary party, be immediately removed.

Citing Article 105 of the Constitution, he argued that discussions about cases sub judice in court and the performance of judges should not be held in the house. Similarly, he demanded that words like 'नरसंहार' (narasanhar - genocide) used by RSP MP Ramesh Prasai also be removed from the record as they were unparliamentary.

Following UML's demand, Speaker Aryal informed that the words spoken by leader Ram Bahadur Thapa, namely 'अराजकहरूको भीड' (arajak haruko bhid - mob of anarchists), 'राष्ट्रिय झण्डा ओढेर देश जलाउनेहरू' (rashtriya jhanda odhera desh jalauunne haru - those who burn the country wearing the national flag), and 'नेपाली सेना मूकदर्शक' (nepali sena mukadarshak - Nepali army is a mute spectator), have been removed from the assembly's record. The Speaker's determination is that these words were unparliamentary and disrespectful.

Leader Thapa had used these words while addressing the house in the meeting on Wednesday. The process of removing words and seeking clarification in the house created an atmosphere of debate for some time.