Political Parties Break Dialogue Hiatus Amidst Parliamentary Stalemate

Kathmandu. The long-standing communication gap between the ruling and opposition parties has been broken. Since the government led by Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) was formed on Chaitra 13, there had been no formal dialogue between the ruling and opposition parties.

Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Chairman Ravi Lamichhane initiated dialogue on the country's politics, government and parliamentary proceedings, and cooperation between parties by holding an all-party meeting with leaders of political parties represented in parliament on Monday. Representatives of opposition parties, except for the Labor Culture Party, participated in Monday's meeting.

Although the communication gap has been broken, the obstructed parliament has not yet resumed as the opposition's stance remains that the Prime Minister's statement regarding the border will not be retracted until it is corrected.

Immediately after the all-party meeting, when the House of Representatives convened at 1 PM on Monday, Speaker DP Aryal adjourned the meeting until Tuesday by posting a notice, as the opposition parties maintained their stance that an apology should be made for the Prime Minister's statement regarding the border.

However, leaders from both sides have described the dialogue initiated between the parties as positive.

At the all-party meeting held at Singh Durbar on Monday, Chairman Ravi Lamichhane initially provided information about his visit to India. During this, opposition parties sought clarity from India regarding the encroachment of Nepali land by the Indian side and discussions held about the EPG report.

However, it is reported that Chairman Lamichhane did not provide clear answers to either of the opposition parties' questions. Following this, the all-party meeting discussed reopening the parliamentary obstruction.

In the discussion, the opposition urged Chairman Lamichhane to apologize in the House for the Prime Minister's statement in parliament, 'Nepal has also encroached upon India's border,' and to remove the incorrect statement from the parliamentary record.

In response, Chairman Lamichhane put forward three proposals, stating that the Prime Minister would not speak immediately as it was a thematic issue, but the Foreign Minister would respond, and if that were not possible, he himself would be ready to respond. The opposition did not agree to Lamichhane's proposal.

'The Chairman made two points. First, we will also discuss within the party,' said Ain Mahar, Chief Whip of the CPN-UML, who participated in the meeting. 'Second, the Foreign Minister will respond in the House. After the Foreign Minister responds, if necessary, I will also respond, but the Prime Minister cannot come now.'

However, the opposition parties reiterated their stance that the Prime Minister himself should respond. 'As this is an extremely serious matter, the Prime Minister must come to parliament and respond and clarify this,' Mahar said. 'Even if he has no such intention, for the Prime Minister of a sovereign country to say from the rostrum of parliament that he has encroached upon another country's land is a matter connected to the nation, connected to the country. Therefore, his statement should also be removed from the parliamentary record.'

CPN (Maoist Centre) leader Varshaman Pun said that although the communication gap between the parties has been broken, the parliamentary obstruction could not be removed because there was no guarantee that the Prime Minister would come to parliament to respond.

'The state of communication gap has been broken. Discussions have moved forward positively,' Pun said. 'However, it is our just stance that the Prime Minister must correct the incorrect statement he made on the issue of nationality.'

He stated that the opposition does not wish to obstruct the House and that the issue of nationality must first be clarified.

CPN-UML Deputy Parliamentary Party Leader Padma Aryal said that the Prime Minister should correct his erroneous statement, which was against his official dignity and the country's self-respect, and move forward.

'Let's pass a resolution, and let's get the Prime Minister to correct his erroneous statement by coming to this House,' we said in today's meeting,' Aryal said. 'The House should not be divided on the issue of nationality. Let's move forward by passing a resolution that builds a common understanding for all.'

Similarly, Nepali Congress MP Santosh Subba condemned the Prime Minister's speech in parliament on the 19th and said that a clarification should be given immediately.

'Where has the dialogue reached after we obstructed parliament for 4 days? What kind of discussion took place? We need to be informed about this,' Subba said in Monday's meeting. 'As time is very short, serious issues should not be overlooked.'