With just three days for the start of the new parliamentary session, the parties have failed to iron out their differences over the formation of a House committee to investigate cooperative fraud charges against Rabi Lamichhane, deputy prime minister and minister for home affairs.

The Nepali Congress, which has been demanding a parliamentary investigation panel since the formation of the current ruling alliance, on Tuesday rejected the ruling parties’ proposal of a panel with broad authority to look into overall problems of the cooperative sector.

In Tuesday’s all-party meeting called by Speaker Devraj Ghimire, the ruling alliance had proposed to a committee with a mandate to look into the problems of the cooperative sector as a whole, unearth fraudulent acts and find who is involved in those cases. They had also proposed that the committee could recommend action against those involved in fraudulent activities.

While not refusing the proposal to study the malpractices prevalent in the cooperative sector, the Congress reiterated its demand for investigation against Lamichhane.

Ramesh Lekhak, chief whip of the main opposition party, said the Congress welcomes any initiative to study problems and fraudulent activities in the cooperative sector as a whole. “However, the investigation against Lamichhane is our bottom line. As questions have been raised against him, finding the truth in the case should be the top priority,” said Lekhak.

The ruling parties, at the all-party meeting, unanimously objected to the demand of focusing investigation against an individual.

“There is no possibility of forming a committee targeting an individual. Let's find a solution to the overall problem,” said Mahesh Bartuala, CPN-UML chief whip.

The leaders of the main opposition parties, however, said Lamichhane is not just an individual, he is a deputy prime minister of the country. “It is the duty of the person holding a responsible position to come clean when questions are raised against him. The government should itself have formed a committee to investigate him, even without the opposition’s demand,” said Lekhak.

Prior to the all-party meeting, the parliamentary party meeting of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) concluded there was no need for a committee to investigate its chairperson when there is no case against him.

“There are lawmakers convicted on corruption charges in the House and yet the Congress asks for an investigation against me,” according to Lamichhane. “What precedent do we want to set? Convicts will take part in House proceedings while a person against whom there is no case will be investigated,” said Lamichhane claiming even the Attorney General Office had cleared him of wrongdoing.

The RSP has demanded that Lamichhane be allowed to clarify the charges against him in the Parliament. Lamichhane on Tuesday has registered an application at the Parliament Secretariat demanding time to offer his clarification. The Congress has been barring him from addressing the House and presenting bills ever since he became part of the Pushpa Kamal Dahal Cabinet on March 4.

The largest party also resorted to the obstruction of several proceedings of the House of Representatives in the winter session. As a result, the House could not make much headway in terms of law-making.

Endorsement of the national budget will not be possible if the Congress continues its obstruction. Its leaders say whether the House functions or will depend on how seriously the ruling parties and the government take their demands. “It has been established that Lamichhane received a loan from the Supreme Cooperative,” said Lekhak.

“Whether the House functions will depend on how the government and the ruling parties present themselves. We want the announcement of a probe committee in the first meeting of the new session.”

The budget session commences Friday. Against the claim from Lamichhane that there are no cases against him, the Congress leader said he is a defendant in a fraud case filed at the Rupandehi District Court.

Before the national budget is presented, both the Houses of the federal parliament must endorse the government’s policies and programmes after deliberations. The President presents the policies and programmes in the joint sessions of both the Houses.

Talking to the journalists after the meeting, Ghimire said he is hopeful the parties would find a meeting point by the time the new session started.

“The Parliament should be a place to resolve problems facing the other state agencies. It cannot be kept in a situation of deadlock,” he said.