Leaders from major political parties have failed to break the deadlock in Parliament two days before President Ramchandra Paudel is scheduled to present the government’s policies and programmes to a joint meeting of the House of Representatives and National Assembly.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Sunday held meetings with senior leaders of the Nepali Congress aiming to end the obstruction of Parliament by the main opposition.

The Congress has been obstructing the House proceedings demanding a parliamentary committee to probe Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Rabi Lamichhane against the allegations of his involvement in the cooperatives scam.

Dahal later met President Paudel at Sheetal Niwas.

The government has recommended that the President present the government’s policies and programmes in Parliament on Tuesday.

The Congress insists that a parliamentary probe committee is necessary as police and 1other government bodies have clearly shown Lamichhane’s involvement in the embezzlement of cooperative funds. However, Lamichhane and his party have stood against the proposal to form such a panel arguing that the allegations were politically motivated.

The ruling parties, however, have shown readiness to form a parliamentary committee to look into the issues of cooperatives frauds across the country in totality—without focusing on the home minister.

Despite the leaders running out of time, the meeting between Prime Minister Dahal and Congress leaders couldn’t yield any result.

Dahal urged Congress leaders to create an environment for a smooth running of Parliament stating that the government was unable to make laws and address some important issues of public concern due to the House disruption.

Prime minister’s press adviser Govinda Acharya said that Dahal was making utmost effort to address the demand of the largest party that has been out of government since March.

“The government is ready to create a favourable environment to address the demand of the Congress,” Acharya quoted Prime Minister Dahal as saying. “Congress leaders are positive after today’s meeting.”

Congress leader Ramesh Lekhak said that they are firm on their stance that a parliamentary committee must be formed to investigate Home Minister Lamichhane. “The prime minister looks positive. We will continue the dialogue.”

A meeting of the present and past office bearers of the Congress party on Saturday decided to reiterate its demand. The meeting also decided to convene the Parliamentary Party’s meeting on Monday to further discuss the matter and decide how to present itself on the day the President presents the policies and programmes.

Addressing a gathering at Rastriya Sabha Griha in Kathmandu on Sunday, Dahal claimed that the Congress won’t disrupt the government while the President presents the policies and programmes.

“I have started a serious discussion with the main opposition to end the deadlock of Parliament,” Prime Minister Dahal said. “Though we have not reached a conclusion, I believe we will find a solution by Monday evening.”

Although the prime minister’s meeting with Congress leaders on Sunday morning was claimed to have ended on a positive note, parliamentary leaders of the parties did not appear conciliatory in another meeting convened by Speaker Devraj Ghimire in the afternoon.

Ghimire convened a meeting of the chief whips and whips of major political parties and the minister for law, justice and parliamentary affairs with an aim to end the impasse. But the meeting made no headway as the leaders from ruling and opposition parties stuck to their guns.

CPN-UML Chief Whip Mahesh Bartaula said there was little chance of the parliamentary committee being formed as demanded by the Congress. Bartaula also accused the main opposition of politicising the issue.

“The Congress has been demanding a parliamentary probe with the government, but it is Parliament that decides whether to form a probe committee,” Bartaula told the Post. He said no other agency can instruct the legislature in its business.

Last year when the UML demanded a high-level judicial committee to investigate gold smuggling cases, the Congress had sought the legal basis to do so, Bartaula said.

“Our party demanded a judicial committee as per the Commission of Inquiry Act 1969. Now the Congress should specify what law to cite to constitute the probe committee it wants,” Bartaula said.

Congress spokesperson Prakash Sharan Mahat dismissed Bartaula’s argument. “Parliament itself is a sovereign body. It needs no law to constitute a parliamentary probe committee.”

Bartaula says it’s within the Speaker’s jurisdiction to form a parliamentary committee. “If a probe committee is necessary, only the Speaker in consensus of all the parties at the business advisory committee can form such a panel,” Bartaula argues.

Constitutional expert Bhimarjun Acharya said that Bartaula's argument is partially true.

“But the government’s recommendation should be implemented by Parliament. Thus the Congress demanding the government, instead of Parliament, for the probe committee cannot be considered wrong,” Acharya told the Post.

What if the parties stick to their guns and fail to find consensus by Tuesday?

It’s too early to answer, UML chief whip Bartaula said.