Tensions rise in parliament over lawmaker’s controversial remarks
While speaking from the rostrum, Singh criticized the government for prioritizing only five districts in the federal budget, claiming that the rest of the country had been neglected.
KATHMANDU: A heated exchange erupted in Sunday’s House of Representatives meeting after Nepali Congress MP Amresh Kumar Singh made controversial remarks during his address, prompting strong objections from CPN-UML Chief Whip Mahesh Bartaula.
While speaking from the rostrum, Singh criticized the government for prioritizing only five districts in the federal budget, claiming that the rest of the country had been neglected.
In a dramatic statement, he went on to say that if only five districts were to be prioritized, the remaining districts might as well be leased to countries like the United States, India, or China.
Bartaula immediately interrupted Singh’s speech, raising an objection on grounds of violating parliamentary decorum.
He accused Singh of delivering “objectionable and anti-national” remarks from the House podium and demanded disciplinary action, arguing that such statements were “tantamount to treason” and should not just be expunged from the parliamentary record but also warrant further punishment.
In response to the uproar, Speaker Devraj Ghimire directed that the portion of Singh’s speech where he mentioned leasing Nepali land to foreign countries be removed from the official parliamentary record.
Following this directive, a tense back-and-forth ensued between Speaker Ghimire, MP Singh, and Chief Whip Bartaula, further intensifying the atmosphere in the House.
