Lawmakers clash in Nepal House over calls to restore monarchy – The Times of India

KATHMANDU: Nepal’s lower house witnessed heated exchanges on Sunday as lawmakers clashed over calls to restore monarchy and removal of Nepal Electricity Authority’s chief, days after violent protests claimed two lives in Kathmandu. Lawmakers began quarrelling shortly after a parliamentary session, delayed by two hours from its scheduled start at 11 am (local time), finally convened.
Speaker Devraj Ghimire urged lawmakers to return to their seats, but opposition members refused to comply. MPs from the ruling alliance then accused the opposition of disrupting proceedings to avoid discussion on Friday’s violent protests. In a partially muted video released by the Parliament secretariat, they demanded punishment for those who mentioned monarchy in the House.
Opposition lawmaker and Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) chairman Rajendra Lingden was seen gesturing defiantly, inviting arrest. RPP has been spearheading the pro-monarchy protests.
The session, which was not broadcast live due to “technical issues” as cited by the Parliament secretariat, was later adjourned following the disruption.Both ruling and opposition parties have called for an investigation into Friday’s violence. PM KP Sharma Oli convened an all-party meeting at 6 pm (local time) on Sunday to discuss the political crisis.
Officials from the PM’s secretariat said RPP has not been invited. Nepal Congress chief whip Shyam Kumar Ghimire said the meeting will focus on the Parliament’s functioning and broader political issues. The move follows a phone call between Oli and Pushpa Kamal Dahal, leader of the main opposition CPN (Maoist Centre).
Opposition parties, including Maoist Centre, have also been stalling proceedings in both the House of Representatives and National Assembly since Wednesday in protest against the dismissal of Kulman Ghising as managing director of the electricity authority.