Opposition parties on Tuesday obstructed the Parliament meeting demanding resignation of Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak.
Soon after Speaker Devaraj Ghimire commenced today’s session of the House of Representatives, lawmakers from the opposition parties stood up in protest, prompting the Speaker to give time to CPN (Maoist Centre) lawmaker Barshaman Pun to speak.
Lawmaker Pun called attention to the fact that the media have reported this week about corruption in the 'visit visa' process at Tribhuvan International Airport, stating as per the reports ordinary citizens who go abroad for work are being charged between Rs 5 million to 30 million.
The main opposition demanded that an investigation should be conducted into the allegation that the Home Minister himself sent the main accused, Joint Secretary Tirtharaj Bhattarai, at the TIA.
"Since the Home Minister's Secretariat is involved in this and as all the investigating bodies are under the Home Ministry, the Home Minister should resign to facilitate the investigation. He must resign, and the parliamentary proceedings will not be allowed to proceed ahead until the Home Minister resigns," said MP Pun.
Immediately after the commencement of today's meeting, opposition parties including the CPN (Maoist Centre), Rastriya Swatantra Party, and the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) obstructed the house demanding the resignation of the Home Minister.
After the obstruction, Speaker Ghimire adjourned the meeting for half an hour.
Prior to this, the Speaker had allocated time for the Chief Whip of the Nepali Congress Shyam Ghimire to speak on behalf of the ruling party.
The lawmakers of Rastriya Swatantra Party had chanted slogans to prevent the ruling party lawmaker Ghimire from speaking.
Rastriya Swatantra Party lawmaker Shishir Khanal demanded the formation of a high-level investigation commission to investigate the involvement of Home Minister Lekhak in the 'Visit Visa' scam.
He mentioned that the opposition would not allow the House to go ahead with its proceedings until a high-level investigation commission is formed in connection with the 'organized corruption' in that matter.
"At Tribhuvan International Airport, a racket is being run under the guise of visit visas, looting innocent youths and collecting millions illegally. The joint secretary sent by the Home Minister to the TIA seems to have a controversial background. But why was he sent to TIA immigration? The Home Minister has his own interests," lawmaker Khanal charged.
