Opposition parties have decided to hold talks with Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba in a bid to resolve the deadlock in Parliament caused by the visit visa scam.

The deadlock has persisted for the past couple of weeks as the ruling alliance and opposition parties remain at odds over forming a probe committee and resignation of Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak over the visit visa scam.

A meeting of the opposition parties on Friday decided to hold talks with Deuba, CPN (Maoist Centre) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal said after the meeting. The ruling Nepali Congress has insisted that Lekhak should be allowed to clarify the allegations against him in the House without any preconditions.

After the meeting of opposition parties, Dahal said that if the ruling alliance agrees to form a probe committee on Lekhak over his alleged involvement in the visit visa scam, the parties would allow the House resume its business. Dahal said he plans to talk to Deuba.

Dahal also held separate talks with Nepali Congress Vice President Purna Bahadur Khadka, leader Gyanendra Bahadur Karki, and chief whip Shyam Kumar Ghimire. Speaking with journalists afterwards, Dahal said he would discuss with Deuba to break the parliamentary impasse. Congress leader Karki also confirmed that a meeting between Deuba and Dahal would take place, although the exact time had not been decided. Deuba is currently in Janakpur.

Sources said that Nepali Congress leaders are also positive about constituting a committee to investigate Lekhak and all other home ministers who held the portfolio since 2006.

The Nepali Congress appears positive about conducting an investigation, a Maoist leader told the Post. “However, it has not yet been decided whether the investigation will be carried out through a parliamentary committee or by forming a judicial commission,” the leader said.

At a time when the Commission for the Investigation for Abuse of Authority (CIAA) is also investigating the visit visa scam, there is no clarity about what kind of additional investigation, if any, would be formed, said the Congress leader. “We have to wait for the outcome of the meeting between Deuba and Dahal.”

Likewise, CPN-UML Chief Whip Mahesh Bartaula said that there is no need to form a separate investigation committee just because the opposition is bargaining over a matter already being investigated by a constitutional commission. Speaking to journalists on the Parliament premises, he stated that since any investigation committee would also ultimately hand over its findings to the CIAA, there is no need to form another committee to investigate the home minister.

He said, “Let’s trust the investigation being carried out by the constitutional commission. It is our responsibility to establish among the public that the organs of the state can function independently. That’s the message we want to convey. The opposition hurriedly raised the issue. The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) held a parliamentary party meeting and took a position, and the Maoists, not wanting to fall behind, jumped in too. But as they understand the issue better, it’s clear that precedents cannot just be ignored.” He added that the opposition is gradually coming to understand this matter.

In the midst of these hectic political parleys, the meeting of the House of Representatives could not convene on Friday. The meeting has been postponed to Sunday 1:00 pm.

Dahal said that there will be a "positive landing" on the visit visa issue within a day or two. Speaking to journalists outside the Parliament building, Dahal stated that the opposition parties have agreed that Parliament can function if the government commits to a credible investigation into the scam.

"In the meeting of the opposition parties, there was a discussion that the government must commit to conducting a trustworthy investigation," Dahal said. "There will be a positive resolution to this issue within a day or two."

"The ruling side appears positive about forming an investigation committee," Dahal said. "There's a debate on whether it should be a parliamentary committee or a committee led by a former judge. Some are of the view that once the CIAA files a case in the Special Court, there is no need for a separate committee."

In the meeting of the opposition parties, leaders from the CPN (Maoist Centre), RSP, and CPN (Unified Socialist) participated. During the meeting, the leaders concluded that the government must move forward by forming an investigation committee regarding the visit visa issue.