Home Minister Sudan Gurung has urged lawmakers from the ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) not to bring internal party grievances into Parliament, saying that doing so would strengthen the opposition.

At the RSP parliamentary party meeting on Wednesday, Gurung also asked the party’s lawmakers not to criticise the government in Parliament.

According to an RSP lawmaker who attended the meeting, Gurung urged MPs to support the government’s work.

“Let’s keep our internal disputes within the party and not oppose the government in Parliament. The opposition is starting to grow stronger,” Gurung told the lawmakers, according to the participant.

Gurung also asked lawmakers to direct any complaints concerning the Home Ministry to his personal secretary rather than raising them directly with him.

“If you have any complaints related to the Home Ministry, don’t bring them to me. Speak to my personal secretary James Karki and meet with him,” Gurung told the lawmakers. He also gave them his personal secretary Karki’s new phone number.

RSP chair Rabi Lamichhane had called the parliamentary party meeting for 11am on Wednesday. Prime Minister Balendra Shah, who is also the RSP parliamentary party leader, did not attend the meeting.

Lamichhane is leading the meeting in his absence. Most government ministers are attending.