Kathmandu, Nov. 8 - Speaker Subash Nemwang Saturday instructed Defense Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa ‘Badal’ and Home Minister Bam Dev Gautam to make the government’s position clear about lawmakers’ charge concerning Kali Bahadur Kham, who was in police warrant in connection with the murder case of businessman Ram Hari Shrestha.
"The murder case has been raised seriously at the parliament meeting for two days. I instruct Defense and Home Ministers to put forth the government’s clear views by presenting themselves at Sunday’s parliament meeting," Nemwang said.
Earlier, lawmakers of different political parties including Nepali Congress, Terai Madhesh Loktantrik Party (TMLP) and Rastriya Prajatantra Party ‘Nepal’ had criticized the government accusing it of protecting Kham instead of bringing him to book.
Meanwhile, Finance Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai today assured other parties that the government would reshuffle the Army Integration Special Committee (AISC). Addressing today’s parliament meeting, he said, "We do not intend to isolate any party from this committee. The government is ready to reshuffle it."
NC and TMLP lawmakers, at Friday’s meeting, had warned of obstructing the parliament unless it addressed their agendas including the reshuffle of the committee. They have charged the government with forming the committee unilaterally.
Dr. Bhattarai said that the government was ready to arrive at a consensus on the definition about the ‘major parties’ as mentioned in the interim constitution for army integration. He said that the
government was serious about the issues raised by the lawmakers. "We are ready to move ahead through dialogue and consultation to address the issues."
Dr. Bhattarai also informed that the Prime Minister had already instructed the concerned authority to withdraw the lawsuits against those booked in relation to the Kapilvastu incident, where some people were killed after the murder of local Mohit Khan. "This will be implemented soon as the due process has started," he said.
After minister Bhattarai’s assurance, TMLP lawmakers postponed their earlier programme of obstructing parliament meeting today. "We have postponed our programme for the time being to see the implementation part of the government’s commitment."
Earlier, taking special time, Nepali Congress lawmaker Uma Adhikari Regmi charged the government that it was moving ahead unilaterally by ignoring the consensus politics and protecting Kham.
Rajendra Mahato, Minister for Commerce and Supplies, said that the government had initiated processes for adjusting prices of petroleum products in line with the international market and the government would continue to adjust the prices in future. Replying to queries by the lawmakers during deliberation of budget allocations under his ministry, he informed that the government was doing homework to provide petroleum products in reduced price.
Education Minister Renu Yadav said that the government had initiated the work to prepare ‘special education policy’ to improve the entire education sector.
The reply under six ministries, Commerce and Supplies, Education, Health and Population, Tourism and Civil Aviation, General Administration and Youth and Sports, from the concerned ministers concluded today.
