Parliament passes two ordinances amid protests

KATHMANDU: DEC. 21 – A meeting of the House of Representatives has approved two ordinances amid protests by the main opposition party, the CPN-UML.

The meeting approved the ordinance to amend some acts against sexual violence, 2078 and the ordinance to amend some acts related to criminal offenses and criminal procedure, 2078 by a majority.

Earlier, UML lawmakers surrounded the rostrum chanting slogans.

UML lawmakers chanted slogans calling for maintaining parliamentary dignity. UML has been obstructing the parliament since the last session of the parliament saying that the speaker had not posted the notice of resignation of 14 lawmakers.

After the UML lawmakers protested in the meeting, Speaker Agni Prasad Sapkota repeatedly drew attention to the provision in the Rules of Procedure of the House of Representatives that there could be no discussion in the court.

Although he requested to keep the issues of the people in the House, the agenda was pushed forward after the UML MPs maintained their protest.

After that, Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Dilendra Prasad Badu had submitted separate proposals for approval of both the ordinances. Before passing both the ordinances, the meeting had rejected the notice of protest given by Prem Suwal of Nepal Workers Peasants Party by a majority.

The next meeting of the House of Representatives will be held on Dec. 22 at 1 pm.