#news #Nepal #PoliticalCrisis
The scheduled meeting of the House of Representatives on Wednesday has been postponed due to the failure of the parties to reach a consensus. The meeting was rescheduled to Thursday at 1 p.m. by the Parliament Secretariat.
During the session, Speaker Agni Prasad Sapkota attempted to facilitate discussions between the ruling and opposition parties to lift the obstruction and proceed with the parliamentary business. However, following the opposition’s demand for the resignation of Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak in connection with irregularities in the visa fee collection process at Tribhuvan International Airport, the meeting was unable to take place.
The controversy arose when it was revealed that irregularities had occurred in the handling of visa fees with officials at the immigration office at Tribhuvan International Airport. This led to a heated dispute involving Home Minister Lekhak, who was eventually embroiled in the controversy and faced calls for his resignation based on ethical grounds.
The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) initiated an investigation into the matter, progressing to probe officials at the Home Ministry, including Under-Secretary Teertharaj Bhattarai. The opposition has insisted on the Minister’s resignation as a matter of principle, while the ruling party maintains that the Home Minister should be given the opportunity to respond in the House before any further action is taken.
In response to the demand, the ruling party has stated that the Home Minister must be given the chance to provide an initial response in the Parliament before any decision can be made. With both sides standing firm on their positions, the parliamentary meeting on Tuesday was also unable to take place.
Opinion from Ramesh Khatri, representative of Kansai Nepal News: “The ongoing political deadlock resulting from the visa fee scandal highlights the need for transparency and accountability within government institutions. It is crucial for officials to uphold ethical standards to maintain public trust and confidence in the system.”
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Author: MAYA | HARUTO
Posted at: June 4, 2025 7:00 pm
