Koshi ex-CM Rai defends assembly outburst, cites rule dispute
In a lengthy post on social media, Rai said the opposition was “suppressed,” forcing him to respond strongly.
KATHMANDU: Former Chief Minister of Koshi Province, Rajendra Rai, has defended his dramatic protest inside the provincial assembly, saying his reaction was “natural and necessary” after being allegedly denied speaking time during the policy and programme session.
In a lengthy post on social media, Rai said the opposition was “suppressed,” forcing him to respond strongly.
His remarks came a day after he was seen leaving his seat, rushing to the rostrum, and pulling the microphone away following the Speaker’s decision not to allocate him speaking time.
Assembly security personnel were briefly seen struggling to control the situation.
Sharing footage of the incident, Rai accused the provincial assembly of failing to operate under established rules and regulations.
“When the House is run not by rules and procedures but by the use of power, I was compelled to respond in protest. Let it be known that if such actions continue, the same response will follow,” Rai wrote.
He also objected to the Speaker’s decision to impose a speaking time limit on him as a former chief minister and leader of the main opposition party.
Rai argued that, by convention, former prime ministers, chief ministers, and opposition leaders are not usually restricted in parliamentary speaking time.
Rai further claimed that a prior agreement among party leaders had removed such limits, but said the issue resurfaced this session, with only 7 minutes proposed for senior leaders or, in some cases, attempts to restrict their participation altogether.
Tensions have been running high in the Koshi Province Assembly, where opposition parties have been protesting the government’s passage of the policy and programme without allowing amendment proposals, approving it through a voice vote.
