Just a few weeks ago, when they were still in the opposition, the CPN-UML and the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) continuously protested in the House of Representatives, demanding the resignation of “tainted” ministers in the Pushpa Kamal Dahal Cabinet.

They asked Dahal to announce that he had sacked Prakash Jwala, then minister for physical infrastructure and transport, along with Mohan Bahadur Basnet, then minister for health and population; and Sudan Kirati, the minister for culture, tourism, and civil aviation, in the previous Cabinet.

A committee headed by Shekhar Poudel, a former High Court judge, pointed to Jwala’s negligence as a reason behind the deadly December 29 incident in Balkumari. Two youths had lost their lives in clashes with the police. While Kirati has been blamed for a controversial decision to lease out Ramgram Stupa in Lumbini, Basnet has been under the scanner of the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority for alleged corruption in the procurement of the Telecommunication Traffic Monitoring and Fraud Control System (Teramocs) for the Nepal Telecommunication Authority.

The parties, including the Nepali Congress, had been arguing that demanding resignation just because someone has been accused is illogical.

Two weeks later, the parties' positions also reversed with the change of seats in Parliament. The Congress has been pushed to the opposition benches, while the UML and the RSP are the ruling partners in the Dahal government.

Now the Congress, which earlier had said then-opposition parties were seeking the resignation of the ministers just because they are accused in some cases, has started obstructing the business of the House demanding the resignation of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Rabi Lamichhane who is accused of cooperative fraud.

The largest party in the House on Thursday sought a reply from the government on Lamichhane’s appointment. It said one who is under investigation for his alleged involvement in misappropriating cooperative funds cannot hold crucial positions in the Cabinet. The party also argued that such an appointment could potentially hinder a fair investigation into the matter.

As Dahal was not available for the response in the House on Friday, the main opposition said it would not allow the government to present the bill in the House. Lamichhane was scheduled to present a bill to amend the Political Parties Act.

The Congress said since it doesn’t accept him as a minister, it will not allow him to present the bill. The House was obstructed after the party’s lawmakers gathered in the well, demanding his resignation. The House proceeding has been deferred till Sunday.

Speaking in the House before resorting to obstruction, Congress chief whip Ramesh Lekhak said it established practice is that those under investigation cannot hold a ministerial position.

“It was not us who said those being investigated for their alleged wrongdoings must resign: They were the UML and the RSP,” he said. “The home minister is under investigation for cooperative fraud by the agencies under his ministry. It is a clear conflict of interest. He cannot remain in the position.”

The Congress has warned not to take its demands lightly, saying that it would continue to protest as long as Lamichhane remained in the position. Following the Congress demand, Speaker Devraj Ghimire drew the government’s attention to the matter.

The UML, too, has changed its earlier position. It has come to the defense of Lamichhane. “Obstruction of the House is a manifestation of the Congress’s frustration of being out of the government,” said Mahesh Bartaula, the UML chief whip. “The Congress has failed to act as a responsible opposition.” The UML says seeking Lamichhane’s resignation is illogical.

The RSP chairperson has been accused of misappropriating millions of rupees deposited to some cooperatives. The victims of the Pokhara-based Surya Darshan Saving have lodged a police case against Lamichhane, among others. The Central Investigation Bureau of Nepal Police has been investigating the matter.

Talking to journalists, Lamichhane, however, rubbished the Congress’s accusation and claimed the attack on him would not hinder his commitment to good governance. “I don’t know how long I’ll be in this position. However, I will use every moment for good governance and live up to people’s aspirations,” he said, adding that the accusation would not deter him.

He blamed the Congress for not giving him an opportunity to clarify the matter. “A new party like the RSP needen’t teach the Congress. What can be done if it obstructs the lawmaking process?”

Lamichhane, however, said he would teach the oldest party when there’s an opportunity for it.