Rastriya Swatantra Party, the fourth largest party in the House of Representatives, is singlehandedly pressing for an investigation into the visit visa scam and punishment against officials promoting human trafficking through the Tribhuvan International Airport.

Other opposition parties like the CPN (Maoist Centre) and the CPN (Unified Socialist) have left the RSP alone in the well trying to disrupt the House and demanding high-level probe into human trafficking. The party is also adamant on demanding Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak’s resignation even as the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority is looking into the matter.

After signing a two-point deal with the CPN-UML and the Maoist Centre, the RSP has been without allies except for the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) that occasionally presents its stance against the home minister. The RPP is a royalist outfit forcefully campaigning for the restoration of Hindu monarchy in Nepal.

Maoist Centre Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Tuesday said that although they are in the opposition, they are compelled to act like a ruling party and strike a balance between the ruling and the opposition. The main opposition leader said that the situation had arisen due to the constitution and the existing laws.

After signing a two-point agreement with the ruling alliance, Dahal feels the heat within his own party. But due to some necessities like passing the national budget and protecting Nepal’s constitution, political system, and the law and regulations, he was forced to compromise with the ruling parties, Dahal argues.

It has become increasingly difficult for the RSP to sustain its agenda for long but the party has been using new tricks to protest inside the House.

As an opposition party, the RSP will definitely benefit from the anti-incumbency factor as ruling parties become unpopular, said political analyst Mumaram Khanal, but it would be difficult for the new party to establish its agenda.

“It looks like the party upped its ante because it wants to take revenge on the jailing of its president, Rabi Lamichhane,” said Khanal. “On the other hand, continued House obstruction will lead to public suffering. But they do not have the strength to sustain the protest. This makes it unlikely that a probe committee will be formed.”

On the other hand, the CIAA has not explicitly indicated the role of Home Minister Lekhak in the visit visa scam, Khanal argued.

On Tuesday too, the RSP urged the ruling parties to heed their demands.

An RSP lawmaker told the Post that they are in regular touch with the Nepali Congress leadership to end the impasse.

“Since the Congress leadership is not taking our suggestions, we are clear that the UML is playing a dubious role in the entire episode. So we will not relent,” the RSP leader said. Lekhak is a Congress lawmaker.

Party spokesperson and lawmaker Manish Jha said they will not back down from their demand for an investigation into those involved in organised crimes related to visit visas and human trafficking.

RSP lawmakers were seen in the House wearing blue scarves. As part of their protest, they sat near the well wearing blue scarves to symbolise the global campaign against human trafficking.

RSP lawmakers have been obstructing House proceedings since May 27. The party alleges that Nepali citizens are being trafficked out of the country under the garb of visit visas while the government shut its eyes to the problem.

“We are raising our voice for the victims, and will not stop until justice is served,” said Jha.

However, the protest prompted a strong reaction from the ruling Nepali Congress. The party accused RSP lawmakers of violating parliamentary rules by wearing unauthorised symbols inside the House. Congress chief whip Shyam Kumar Ghimire raised a formal objection that such displays could undermine decorum and set a disruptive precedent.

“There is a rule that lawmakers must appear in proper, formal attire,” Ghimire said. “What happens if someone shows up in casual or any protest gear? This is not how to maintain the dignity of Parliament.”

Ghimire appealed to Speaker Devraj Ghimire to issue a warning and consider disciplinary action, including expulsion, against the protesting lawmakers. “The Speaker must take this seriously and act to protect the sanctity of the House,” he demanded.

Santosh Pariyar, the RSP chief whip, said he spoke with the Speaker on Tuesday to discuss the impasse. “We will sit tomorrow too but I see no immediate solution to this issue,” he added.

RSP leaders believe their popularity is rising due to the stance against the visa scam. “People support our agenda and our popularity is rising,” said Sishir Khanal, another RSP lawmaker. “Since big parties have been ignoring our demands, it is difficult to say when this fiasco will end.”

Mahesh Bartaula, chief whip of the prime minister’s party—UML, said the RSP made a blunder by wearing the scarves.

“Such childish behaviour will only tarnish the country’s image internationally,” he told the Post. “We do not know when and how the RSP’s protest will end, but it is not helping them. Real politics is different and we are here to do politics for a longer term.”

Citing the ongoing protests, the House meeting was on Tuesday deferred till Thursday.