Lawmakers from main opposition Nepali Congress and ruling party CPN-UML have scuffled in a meeting of the House of Representatives on Thursday.

The situation at the meeting suddenly turned tense after Speaker Devraj Ghimire allowed Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane to go to the rostrum and address the meeting amid protest of the main opposition.

Congress lawmakers had already gathered at the well and were chanting slogans demanding formation of a parliamentary panel to probe against Home Minister Lamichhane, who is accused of being involved in multiple cooperative frauds.

As the Speaker allowed the minister to go to the rostrum the Congress lawmakers and senior CPN-UML leaders, who were in the front row of the ruling bench,  engaged in arguments.

Even UML chair KP Sharma Oli was seen trying to clear the way for the home minister, who was blocked by the protesting Congress lawmakers.

Oli and Congress vice president Dhanraj Gurung were also engaged in a heated argument. Other lawmakers from both sides subsequently joined the quarrel.

Congress lawmakers were visibly angry after the Speaker read out letters received from the Office of the President amid their protest.

Later, the Speaker asked the home minister to take his seat and adjourned the meeting. The next proceedings have been called for 11 am on Friday.

Earlier, the meeting of the National Assembly was also adjourned until 1:15 pm on Friday following obstruction from the Nepali Congress.

The main opposition has been obstructing the budget session of the parliament since the first day of the session that commenced on May 10. However, the opposition parties had allowed the President to table policies and programmes of the government.