Speaker fails to set House in order

Speaker fails to set House in order

Lawmakers scuffle as Mahara asks minister to present controversial bill

Lawmakers from ruling  and  opposition  parties today scuffled in the parliament leading to adjournment of  the proceeding, as both sides remained firm on their stands on the National Education Medical Bill and the government’s decision to scrap two hospitals named after two former prime ministers.

The situation came to such a sorry pass, with lawmakers using foul language, that speaker Krishna bahadur Mahara head to announce the adjournment of the House till Friday through a notice on the notice board. The speaker had earlier adjourned the House twice, for 15 minutes each.

Chief  Whip of the ruling Nepal Communist Part(NCP) Dev Prasad Gurung said Nepali Congress lawmakers didn’t even allow the speaker to enter the House chamber from his office.

“NC lawmakers staged a sit in at the entrance of the chamber and even used foul language against the speaker,” alleged Gurung. “They also moved to the well before the start of House  proceedings in violation of parliamentary norms, values and procedure”.

NC lawmakers, however, said they obstructed the speaker’s path as he failed to uphold values of the House. “Mahara tired to move ahead with House proceedings despite the opposition’s protest,” said NC lawmaker Gagan Thapa.

When the House met after the first 15 minute hiatus, opposition lawmakers stood up from their seat and went to the well to protest through the House proceedings had not yet started.

Shouting from the well of the House, NC lawmaker Minedra Rijal said,” The speaker should act like a speaker. He con not go against the House’s  norms and values.” Mahara requested NC lawmakers to take their seats, but they did not listeen