Opposition Leader Angdembe Accuses Speaker Aryal of Partiality

Kathmandu. Chief opposition party Nepali Congress's parliamentary party leader Bhishma Raj Angdembe has accused Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal of not being impartial and coordinative in his role. 

Speaking at an interaction program with journalists in Singha Durbar on Monday, leader Angdembe warned Speaker Aryal not to try to gauge the pulse of the opposition parties. 

Reminding that the Speaker is not a member of any party, he said that it is necessary to understand what his role should be inside the parliament. Leader Angdembe expressed dissatisfaction with the Speaker's intention to have only one person represent the opposition parties when they express objections on any issue in the parliament. 

He demanded that representatives of all parties should be allowed to express their views in the parliament. He warned that the opposition has been cooperating in the operation of the daily agenda despite controversial statements being repeatedly made from the ruling party in the house, and this should not be taken as a weakness. 

Speaking to journalists, he said, 'After protesting in the parliament, all opposition parties should be allowed to speak. This act of gauging the pulse should not be done inside the parliament.' He mentioned that it would be easier if the Speaker, who conducts the proceedings of the house, understood his role and proceeded with the understanding that he is not affiliated with any party at present. 

Leader Angdembe added, 'Despite the kind of statements being made in the parliament, the opposition has shown sincerity in conducting the daily agenda.' He clarified that all these actions are being done with the country in focus, urging that this should be considered as friendship rather than weakness. It is his understanding that problems are arising in the house because the ruling party is not coordinating with the opposition parties.