After continuous disruptions to House of Representatives (HoR) meetings over the visit visa controversy, the ruling Nepali Congress and CPN-UML and the main opposition CPN (Maoist Center) have reached a two-point agreement to resume parliamentary proceedings.
According to Barshaman Pun, vice-chairman of the main opposition Maoist Center, the two-point agreement was signed between the ruling parties and the main opposition on Friday.
The first point of the agreement states: "The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) is investigating matters related to visit visas and immigration. The CIAA will conclude this investigation. The government of Nepal will provide necessary cooperation for investigation as requested by the commission."
The second point mentions: "The government of Nepal commits to conducting necessary studies and investigations into the long-standing problems related to immigration and visit visas and taking concrete steps for policy, legal, and structural reforms."
The agreement was signed by Mahesh Kumar Bartaula, chief whip of the UML, and Hitraj Pandey, chief whip of the Maoist Center. However, opposition parties Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) and Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) have said that the agreement would not be acceptable to them.
Initially, opposition parties including the Maoist Center, RSP, RPP, and CPN (Unified Socialist) had demanded the resignation of Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak and the formation of an inquiry commission or parliamentary investigation committee over the visit visa issue.
However, as the NC and UML were not in favor of fulfilling these demands, the Maoist Center and Unified Socialist softened their stance.
While there will be studies and investigations regarding the visit visa issue, neither an inquiry commission nor a parliamentary committee will be formed. Instead, the government itself will establish a mechanism for investigation.
The NC, UML, and Maoist Center had reached the two-point agreement on Thursday, but it was not signed that day.
RSP had sought some time to reach a decision on the agreement. The party has maintained its demand for the home minister’s resignation and the formation of an investigation committee on the visit visa issue.
The opposition parties allowed the government to present the budget on May 29, but have since been continuously obstructing House of Representatives meetings.
Meanwhile, Speaker Devraj Ghimire, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba and Vice-president Purna Bahadur Khadka, and Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal were involved in efforts to end the House impasse.
Although the House meeting was scheduled for 1 p.m. on Friday, it could not convene at that time. A notice was later issued rescheduling the meeting for 3:15 p.m.
