Kathmandu (TIP): Nepal President Ramchandra Paudel on Thursday suspended the session of both houses of Parliament that was scheduled for April 30, a development described by the opposition as “unprecedented and surprising.” The president cited “special reasons” for suspending the session of the House of Representatives and the National Assembly on the recommendation of the Nepal government and the Council of Ministers, Ritesh Kumar Shakya, spokesperson of the Office of the President, said here. However, no further details were disclosed regarding the reasons behind the suspension. Earlier, Paudel had summoned the parliamentary session for April 30 on the recommendation of the cabinet on April 21.
Senior most Parliament Member and opposition Nepali Congress leader Arjun Narsingh K C said that the government’s decision to suspend the Parliament session even without convening was “unprecedented and surprising.” The development comes a day after Nepal Home Minister Sudan Gurung tendered his resignation after allegations relating to his financial conduct while holding the office.
On April 9, Prime Minister Balendra Shah sacked Minister for Labour, Employment and Social Security Dip Kumar Sah from his post at the recommendation of the ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP).
This was to be the second parliamentary session after the joint session from April 2 to 10.
In March, Shah – popular only as Balen – and his RSP rode to power decimating the traditional parties in the first general elections since last year’s violent Gen Z protests that sought generational change and a corruption-free regime.
Nepal’s home minister resigns, second cabinet exit in one month
Nepal’s minister of home affairs has resigned, saying there have been questions about his investments and other matters. He is the second minister to withdraw from the country’s month-old government.
Sudan Gurung announced his departure on Wednesday, stressing that questions should be investigated, without giving further details.
“I have resigned from the position of Home Minister with effect from today,” the 38-year-old posted on his social media accounts.
“For me, morality is greater than a position, and there is no greater power than public trust … Public life should be clean, leadership should be accountable,” added Gurung, who took office on March 27.
Dipa Dahal, press adviser to Prime Minister Balendra Shah, confirmed the reception of Gurung’s resignation. Shah will take charge of the Ministry of Home Affairs until a new appointment is made, Dahal added.
Gurung came into the spotlight after he ordered the arrest of former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and his home minister, Ramesh Lekhak, in connection with an investigation into their roles during a crackdown on youth-led protests last September.
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